PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco began Monday within the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old woman.
Franco informed judges he needs justice to be executed.
Franco has been charged within the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and business exploitation towards a minor, and human trafficking.
Prosecutors launched paperwork as proof towards the 24-year-old Franco in the course of the first listening to, and added that they are going to name not less than seven witnesses in a trial that’s anticipated to proceed Thursday, Friday and June 9.
Franco heard the costs towards him and could possibly be sentenced to as much as 30 years in jail.
“I heard all they stated, however I wished to say that justice have to be executed,” Franco informed the judges.
Irina Ventura, one in all Franco’s attorneys, stated a part of the proof towards her consumer is fraudulent and unlawful. Teodosio Jaquez, one other member of the participant’s authorized workforce, stated the underage woman denied having sexual relations with the participant.
Prosecutor Claudio Cordero stated all of the proof “was obtained in a lawful method, are self-sufficient and can result in a conviction, which is sought by the prosecutor’s workplace.”
Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 earlier than Dominican authorities started investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mom hundreds of {dollars} for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12, however was postponed till June.
The trial might take as much as eight months to conclude, based mostly on the common length of trials within the Dominican Republic.
