Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday after meeting with prosecutors in the Dominican Republic investigating the 22-year-old star on charges of having an off-kilter date with a minor, a government official with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press.
Franco spent only about three hours in detention at the Puerto Plata provincial prosecutor’s office, the AP reported, citing a source who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity. He was later arrested for failing to attend a scheduled meeting last Thursday with prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías. according to ESPN.
On Dec. 26, police and prosecutors searched in vain for Franco at two homes he owned in Baní, a few miles from the capital Santo Domingo, according to authorities.
Reached by phone Monday night, Franco’s attorney, Jay Reisinger, told The Daily Beast, “I’m in the process of communicating with your attorneys in the Dominican Republic, and until I have a thorough conversation with them, it’s out of the question to comment. “
Franco first investigated in August, after social media posts reported that he had had sex with a minor, prosecutors said.
Franco allegedly could be tied to three or more minors, two of whom have filed lawsuits against him, according to ESPN. Major League Baseball placed Wander on paid administrative leave following the accusations, and MLB launched an independent investigation of its own.
Franco will have to be heard before a ruling is made within 24 hours, according to Dominican law. The Rays have not commented on the allegations, saying the team supports MLB’s decision to suspend him. Franco is two years into an 11-year sentence. , $182 million contract.
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