Age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old
Faces potential prison term of two to five years if found guilty
Franco allegedly had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for consent
Franco initially charged with commercial/sexual exploitation and money laundering, but charges lessened to sexual and psychological abuse
Legal proceedings against Franco ongoing, MLB likely to wait for outcome before taking disciplinary action
Rays placed Franco on administrative leave last August following allegations, he has not played since then and is currently collecting salary from 11-year, $182 million deal with Tampa Bay
Wander Franco formally charged with sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic
Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have formally charged Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor. According to multiple reports, Franco is alleged to have had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother thousands of dollars for consent. The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old.
Franco was initially charged with commercial/sexual exploitation and money laundering, but those charges have been lessened to sexual and psychological abuse. He faces a potential prison term of two to five years if found guilty.
The Rays placed Franco on administrative leave last August following allegations of the inappropriate relationship. He has not played for the team since then and is currently collecting his salary, which amounts to $2.45 million in 2024 and is part of an 11-year, $182 million deal with Tampa Bay.
The legal proceedings against Franco are ongoing, and MLB is likely to wait for the outcome before taking any disciplinary action under its domestic violence/child abuse policy. Franco's leave has been extended until the All-Star Break.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have brought formal charges against Wander Franco for sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor.
Franco has been on administrative leave since last August following allegations of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old.
Prosecutors initially indicated they were considering charging Franco with commercial/sexual exploitation and money laundering, but charges have been lessened to sexual and psychological abuse.
Wander Franco formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic
Franco allegedly had a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl
Girl’s mother also indicted in the case
Franco paid woman thousands of dollars for consent to the relationship
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in the way it presents the charges against Wander Franco. It states that he is formally charged with sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor, but it does not disclose that his mother-in-law was also indicted. This omission creates an impression of a more straightforward case than actually exists.
Wander Franco has been formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor in the Dominican Republic related to an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl, ESPN reported Tuesday night.
Fallacies
(0%)
The author makes several statements that imply the girl's mother consented to the relationship between Franco and her daughter. However, this is an appeal to authority fallacy as the author does not provide any evidence that the mother actually gave consent. Additionally, there are inflammatory statements made about Franco's alleged actions being 'sexual abuse and sexual exploitation', but no clear definition or evidence of these terms being used in their legal sense is provided.
The girl's mother was also included in Tuesday’s indictment, according to the Associated Press.
He last played for the Rays on Aug. 12, and he was placed on administrative leave shortly after the disturbing accusations surfaced. Franco is alleged to have paid the woman thousands of dollars to consent to the four-month relationship,
Authorities accused Franco of ‘taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl’s mother.’
Bias
(0%)
The author, Christian Arnold, demonstrates a clear bias in this article by repeatedly referring to the alleged victim's age and the payment made to her mother as evidence of consent. This is an example of victim-blaming and minimizing the seriousness of sexual abuse against a minor.
Authorities accused Franco of ‘taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl’s mother.’
He is alleged to have paid the woman thousands of dollars to consent to the four-month relationship,
Wander Franco formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor in the Dominican Republic
Franco paid thousands and gifted a car to the mother for consent
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(0%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the deceptive narrative of Franco's alleged actions without mentioning any potential context or extenuating circumstances. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying the severity of Franco's situation without providing all relevant facts.
With charges now formally filed, Franco’s case will go to trial, and he stands to face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
Franco is alleged to have had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and to have paid her mother for her consent to continue the relationship.
Prosecutors allege that Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars and even gifted her a car.
Wander Franco formally charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic according to multiple reports.
Nairobi Viloria, spokesperson for the attorney general’s office confirmed charges.
Testimony from the girl and her family states Franco paid mother thousands in cash and gifts for consent.
Indictment includes the minor’s mother as well.
Accuracy
Franco has not played since Aug. 12, 2023 due to allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
Deception
(0%)
The article reports on formal charges against Wander Franco for sexually abusing a minor. The author provides details about the accusations, including testimony from the girl and her family, as well as Franco's administrative leave from MLB. However, the author also includes editorializing and sensationalism in their reporting.
Alex Andrejev is a staff editor on the news team. Before joining The Athletic, she covered NASCAR and Charlotte FC for The Charlotte Observer and was a reporting intern on the sports desk for The Washington Post. She grew up near Washington, D.C.
