On May 25, 2026, a Dominican judge declared Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor. Despite this ruling, Franco will not face a prison sentence. Judge José Antonio Núñez decided that Franco was a victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, who received a 10-year prison sentence for sexually trafficking her daughter.
The decision to exempt Franco from punishment involved granting him a judicial pardon due to specific circumstances. Judge Núñez explained, “It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment. The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one.” The judicial pardon followed what the judge described as “logical and legal reasoning.”
Expressing his relief, Franco thanked God while embracing his mother, Nancy Aybar, and family members who supported him in court. He was detained in January 2024 after accusations of a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl. During this time, he allegedly transferred substantial sums to the girl’s mother to facilitate the illegal relationship. Franco was also charged with sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking, charges for which he was previously acquitted.
Following the court’s decision, Franco left the courthouse in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, with his lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez. Franco briefly answered questions from reporters, stating, “I feel calm,” and urged his fans to “continue supporting me and trusting in me.” While Franco hadn’t personally contacted the Rays, he noted that his lawyers likely had.
In response to the verdict, Major League Baseball stated, “We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.” Franco’s lawyer, Jáquez, clarified that they had not yet received the physical sentence documents, but confirmed that Franco was exempt from punishment as determined by the court president.
The full sentencing is scheduled for June 16. “When we have the full sentence in hand, we will give you more details,” Jáquez said. Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021, but his career was disrupted when Dominican authorities announced their investigation into his alleged relationship with a minor in August 2023. At that time, Franco was 22 years old. Six months post-arrest, the Rays placed him on the restricted list, ceasing his pay while he was on administrative leave.