Wander Franco Released Under Supervision Following Gun Charge in the Dominican Republic
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, already awaiting trial on a serious sexual abuse case, was granted supervised release on Wednesday after his recent arrest on firearm charges in the Dominican Republic. The 23-year-old was detained following an incident in a parking lot in San Juan de la Maguana, where police discovered a gun in his vehicle.
Judge Viamerca Ruiz ruled that Franco must check in with the court monthly while authorities investigate his possession of the firearm, which is registered under his uncle’s name. Franco was reportedly involved in a dispute in the apartment complex lot, where another man and a woman were also detained. Two firearms were confiscated by police.
Franco’s attorney, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, defended his client, stating, “The gun has a license…so there’s nothing illegal about it.” Lorenzo added that Franco was merely visiting the area and emphasized that the weapon is not owned by Franco.
Under Dominican law, a conviction for illegal firearm possession could result in a prison sentence of three to five years. This incident compounds Franco’s legal troubles as he faces a separate trial scheduled for December 12 in Puerto Plata, where he is charged with sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old, alongside additional charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking. Franco initially secured conditional release after these allegations surfaced in January.
Franco, who has refrained from public comment, previously remarked about the case, saying, “Everything is in God’s hands.” His promising MLB career came to a halt in August 2023, in the middle of his third season. The Rays had signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021, but the team placed him on the restricted list on July 10, suspending his pay while he remains on administrative leave.
