The trial of Major League Baseball player Wander Franco Aybar on charges of alleged sexual abuse of a minor was postponed during the Puerto Plata Collegiate Courthearing held on Tuesday, 17 June 2025. The next hearing was rescheduled for Monday, 23 June at 9:30am.
Also indicted in the case is the victim’s mother, who is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, is charged with alleged sexual exploitation and money laundering.
According to the Public Ministry’s indictment, Franco allegedly abducted the minor for sexual purposes, holding her for several days in the municipality of Villa Montellano, Puerto Plata province. He is then accused of transferring large sums of money to the victim’s mother to prevent a complaint from being filed. These funds were allegedly used to acquire both movable and immovable property.
The Public Ministry asserts that Franco’s actions violate several articles of the Dominican Penal Code, Law 136-03 on the protection of minors, Law 137-03 on human trafficking, and other legal provisions.
Among the specific articles cited are:
Law 136-03: Articles 25, 396 B and C, 409, and 410
Penal Code: Articles 265, 266, and 331
Law 137-03: Article 3 concerning human trafficking
Interviewed at the last court hearing, Franco said he continues to stay in shape and hopes to be cleared to return to playing baseball.
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Diario Libre
N Digital
DR1 News
18 June 2025