Once Tampa Bay Rays’ star slugger, Wander Franco has been ordered to appear in court once a month for the next six months after being accused of illegal possession of a firearm.
The decision was made by Judge Viamelka Ruiz Sepúlveda on Wednesday, 13 November 2024 following a hearing in San Juan de la Maguana. Franco was released on conditional liberty but must report to court on the 30th of each month.
Franco’s legal team expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling, arguing that their client was unaware of the gun in the vehicle he was traveling in. They claim the weapon belonged to Franco’s uncle, Branly Fernando Lugo Rodríguez, who was out of the country at the time.
The incident occurred after Franco had visited a woman in San Juan de la Maguana. When he left her home, her ex-boyfriend confronted him, leading to a heated exchange in a parking lot. Police arrived at the scene and found the firearm in Franco’s vehicle.
While a medical examination revealed no recent injuries to those involved, and both parties subsequently signed a mutual desistance agreement, the judge ruled that Franco must still face the legal consequences of the firearm possession charge.
The case has drawn significant attention in both the Dominican Republic and the United States, as Franco had been regarded as one of the most talented young players in Major League Baseball.
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Diario Libre
DR1 News
14 November 2024