The legal saga surrounding MLB player Wander Franco has taken another turn, as the Court of Appeals in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, has annulled the verdict from Franco’s trial held last June. In that trial, both he and the mother of the alleged victim were found guilty of crimes related to their involvement with a 14-year-old girl. Franco had received a two-year suspended prison sentence, while the victim’s mother was sentenced to ten years in prison. However, with the recent decision, both sentences have been nullified, and Franco along with the victim’s mother will face new trials.
Franco’s legal team had challenged the initial trial’s results, citing numerous procedural errors, particularly noting that a substantial number of witnesses failed to appear during the original proceedings. This led to significant delays, as the trial stretched from December 2024 until sentencing.
The annulment of the trial allows Major League Baseball (MLB) to advance its own investigation into Franco’s conduct, which has been in limbo. Depending on the outcome of the new trial, his career prospects could be heavily impacted, especially concerning the issuance of his work visa. Even if a visa is approved, MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy allows for disciplinary actions to be taken based on conduct, regardless of the trial’s verdict.
Franco has been on administrative leave since August 2023 following the surfacing of these allegations. He was officially placed on the restricted list by the Tampa Bay Rays in July 2024 after formal charges were brought against him. Compounding the challenges he faces, Franco encountered legal trouble again late last year when a gun was found in his vehicle after a video-recorded altercation, although those charges were subsequently dismissed.
As this serious situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the new trial will affect not only Franco’s future in baseball but also the broader implications regarding athlete conduct and accountability in professional sports. The outcome may serve as a pivotal moment in Franco’s career and shed light on how similar cases are managed in the future.