WANDER FRANCO DE LOS RAYOS ARRESTED AMID INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED RELATIONSHIPS WITH MINORS: REPORTS
The ruling has several options: release Franco on bail, temporarily arrest him, save him from leaving the Dominican Republic, or require him to appear until the investigation or trial concludes.
The 22-year-old All-Star player remains in jail for now after being detained on Monday in Puerto Plata.
His lawyer, Teodosio Jaquez Encarnacion, refused to speak to the press, saying only that Franco is fine.
Prosecutors declined to comment.
Authorities have not shared the main points of the case, even though prosecutors said on Aug. 14 that Franco was being investigated for social media posts suggesting he was dating a minor. The Palestinian Authority was unable to determine the reported messages.
On Dec. 26, police and prosecutors visited two of Franco’s homes located in his hometown of Baní, just southwest of the capital Santo Domingo, but the player was not there.
On Dec. 28, a prosecutor requested that Franco appear, but he did not do so until Monday, when he was detained following a nearly three-hour interview.
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Major League Baseball placed Franco on administrative leave in August as part of its joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse with the players’ association. He paid and earned time of service while on leave.
There is no timeline for the conclusion of MLB’s investigation or whether the effects may lead to disciplinary action across the organization.