The trial against Major League Baseball shortstop Wander Franco being heard in a Puerto Plata court was postponed until 2 June 2025. The suspended Tampa Bay shortstop is accused of psychological and sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. In addition to the baseball player, the victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, is also charged with alleged sexual exploitation and money laundering.
The postponement was due to the absence of most of the witnesses in the case.
Presiding Judge Yakaira Veras issued an order to bring to court the 30 witnesses who failed to appear at the beginning of the trial.
Among the absent witnesses are medical and psychological professionals who examined the minor.
In addition to the baseball player, the victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, is also charged with alleged sexual exploitation and money laundering.
The Tampa Bay Rays star batter is accused of sexual abuse, sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking.
Prosecutors allege that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred significant sums of money in pesos and dollars to the minor’s mother, allegedly to consent to the abuse.
23-year old Franco insists his baseball career is not over and expects to be cleared in the judiciary. The case went public after the teenager denounced on Whatsapp that she was not getting her fair share of the deal.
Read more:
El Caribe
Sports Illustrated
AP
16 December 2024