Father of minor in Wander Franco's sexual abuse case to seek dismissal of charges citing 'lack of evidence': Report
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco's trial on charges of an alleged sexual relationship with a minor has taken another turn after Franco appeared at the courthouse on Wednesday morning in Puerta Plata.
The initial hearing, set for Wednesday, has been pushed back until Sept. 26. However, Listin Diario News, a newspaper outlet from the Dominican Republic, reported that the minor's father is going to ask the charges against the Rays star to be dropped at the next hearing.
According to Listin Diario, the lawyer for the minor's father is seeking the dismissal of the case due to lack of evidence against Wander Franco. The Rays shortstop's representative, lawyer Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, welcomed the decision (via Tampa Bay Times):
“My opinion is that the father certainly had no basis for sustaining the accusation since he spoke with his younger daughter about it, and she informed him of the same thing she stated in the Gesell chamber [a private session before a judge], which is that she never had any kind of relationship with Wander,” Encarnacion said.
Wander Franco continues to be sidelined after sexual abuse and sexual exploitation charges
Wander Franco has not participated in the Rays campaign this term and has been out of action since allegations of a relationship with a minor emerged on social media last year. He is currently on MLB's restricted list as the league continues to wait for the verdict of his trial in the Dominican Republic.
The 23-year-old was charged with alleged sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by Dominican prosecutors last month. Franco has been under investigation by Dominican officials since August last year, who also filed a 600-page report in January this year, detailing the allegations.
The report also includes the minor's mother, who faces charges of receiving payments from the Rays shortstop.
The Rays star could face 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charges pressed against him. Franco's MLB future remains in limbo as the preliminary hearing has been postponed to a later date.