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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who’s presently on trial on costs together with sexual abuse of a minor, was charged Sunday with unlawful possession of a handgun, prosecutors mentioned.
Franco was arrested Nov. 10 in San Juan de la Maguana after an altercation in a car parking zone. Nobody was injured through the battle, and the handgun, a semiautomatic Glock 19, was present in Franco’s automobile, in response to a press release from the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Workplace.
The handgun was registered within the identify of Franco’s uncle, prosecutors mentioned within the assertion. After the arrest, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, certainly one of Franco’s legal professionals, mentioned that as a result of the gun was licensed, “there’s nothing unlawful about it.”
Prosecutors requested that Franco stand trial on the gun cost.
When reached by ESPN on Sunday night time, the Rays mentioned that they had no touch upon the matter.
The 24-year-old Franco’s trial within the sexual abuse case — involving a lady who was 14 years previous on the time of his alleged crimes — is ongoing. The costs in that case embody sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and industrial exploitation in opposition to a minor, and human trafficking.
In response to prosecutors, Franco kidnapped the woman for sexual functions and “despatched giant sums of cash to her mom.”
Franco, who’s on supervised launch, faces as much as 30 years in jail if convicted.
Franco was enjoying his third main league season when his profession was halted in August 2023 due to the allegations. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He’s presently on Main League Baseball’s restricted checklist.
ESPN’s Juan Arturo Recio contributed to this report.
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