**Wander Franco Faces Serious Charges in Trial Over Alleged Relationship with Minor**
Wander Franco, the 2023 MLB All-Star, is currently on trial facing allegations of engaging in a relationship with a minor and compensating her mother for her consent. The shortstop last played on August 12, 2023, and has since been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking.
Prosecutors claim that the minor’s mother, previously a bank employee, began living a lavish lifestyle and acquiring assets with the money allegedly provided by Franco. During searches of the mother’s residence, authorities reportedly discovered $68,500 and an additional $35,000, which they assert were payments made by Franco.
In court, Franco made a passionate statement, urging, “Let justice be done.” According to reports, Dominican prosecutors revealed that Franco referred to the minor as “my girl” in a WhatsApp message, acknowledging the risks of their relationship but expressing his affection for her. He allegedly wrote, “If my team realizes this, it could cause problems for me. It is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it.”
The alleged relationship, which lasted four months when the girl was just 14, reportedly involved Franco paying her to remain silent about their interactions. The girl’s mother is also facing charges related to money laundering due to gifts allegedly received from Franco. Documents indicate that Franco provided the girl with approximately $46,000 in July and August and paid her mother around $1,700 monthly, along with gifting her a new car.
Franco and the girl reportedly met on December 9, 2022, after he allegedly took her from her home, leading to two sexual encounters within a short period. With the ongoing charges, it appears increasingly unlikely that Franco will return to Major League Baseball. He had a standout season, achieving an All-Star title and posting impressive statistics with a .281 batting average, 17 home runs, and 58 RBIs over 112 games.
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension in November 2021, which could have been worth up to $233 million with team options. Although he was receiving payments while on administrative leave, those payments ceased when he was placed on the restricted list.
**FAQ**
**What are the charges against Wander Franco?**
Wander Franco faces charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking related to an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
