Rays Shortstop Wander Franco Charged With Gun Possesion In Dominican Republic

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who’s on trial on charges that include sexual abuse of a minor, was charged Sunday with illegal possession of a handgun, prosecutors said.

Franco was arrested on November 10 in San Juan de la Maguana after an altercation in a parking lot. No one was injured during the fight, and the gun, a semiautomatic Glock 19, was found in Franco’s vehicle, according to a statement from the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The gun was registered in the name of Franco’s uncle, prosecutors said in the statement. After the arrest, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, one of Franco’s lawyers, said that because the gun was licensed, “There’s nothing illegal about it.”

Prosecutors are requesting that Franco stand trial on the gun charge.

The 24-year-old Franco’s trial in the sexual abuse case – involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time of his alleged crimes – is ongoing. The charges in that case include sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking.

According to prosecutors, Franco kidnapped the girl for sexual purposes and “sent large sums of money to her mother.”

Franco, who is on supervised release, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The Rays’ shortstop was playing his third major league season when his career was stopped in August 2023 due to the allegations.

Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He’s currently on the MLB’s restricted list.

Should he not be able to play again, the Rays would seem to have legal ground to go after some or all of his record-setting contract.

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Article by James Van Wickler