MLB star Wander Franco WILL stand trial for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor in his native Dominican Republic

Major League Baseball prima Wander Franco volition spell to proceedings connected charges that helium sexually abused a minor, a justice successful the Dominican Republic has ruled.

After an probe that lasted implicit a year, justice Pascual Valenzuela of the bluish state of Puerto Plata ruled that the grounds presented by the prosecutors was worthy of the lawsuit moving to trial.

No day has been acceptable for the trial, which volition beryllium handled by a sheet of judges. In the Dominican Republic, determination are nary assemblage trials.

A prima shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors filed aggregate charges against Franco six months aft a justice ordered that helium beryllium investigated successful transportation with alleged intersexual and intelligence maltreatment of the girl.

Franco, who has refused to talk to the media, attended the proceeding that lasted 5 hours and said aft that 'everything is successful God's hands.'

Teodosio Jáquez, Franco's lawyer, said that the result was expected portion prosecutors declared that the judge's determination validates the grounds presented.

'It's a coagulated accusation and the tribunal understood it. The grounds linked the defendants to what's described successful the accusation,' said the prosecutor, Claudio Cordero.

Franco arrived astatine the proceeding astir 9 a.m. with his caput down. He kept quiescent and listened to his lawyers and the prosecutors during his clip successful court.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the justice successful July and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, done his parent Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 cardinal pesos oregon $17,000 to the parent of the insignificant connected Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse.

The parent of the insignificant has been charged with wealth laundering and is nether location arrest.

Prosecutors accidental that the minor's parent went from being a slope worker to starring an ostentatious beingness and acquiring assets that she cannot warrant utilizing the funds she received from Franco.

During raids connected the location of the minor's mother, prosecutors accidental they recovered $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.

If convicted, Franco could look up to 20 years successful prison.

Franco, who turned 23 connected March 1, was successful the midst of his 3rd large league play erstwhile his vocation was halted successful August 2023. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 cardinal declaration successful November 2021.

Tampa Bay placed him connected the restricted database past month, cutting disconnected the wage helium had been receiving portion connected administrative leave.