The court in Puerto Plata considered him guilty of sexual relationships with a 14-year-old girl, with the permission of her mother in exchange for money. The judge emphasized that Franco’s penalty was relaxed because of his young age – at the time of the offense he was 21 years old -, blank criminal record and the damage to his career. Moreover, he was acquitted of “sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking.” Franco appeals the decision.
According to the judiciary, Franco paid tens of thousands of dollars to the mother, who made her daughter available in exchange. She was sentenced to a non-conditional prison sentence of ten years for sexual exploitation of a minor. In total she would have earned 100,000 euros in this way.
Franco on ‘Restricted List’
Franco, who no longer played since August 2023, is currently on the ‘restricted list’ of his club – he remains under contract, but is not allowed in a match. He also received a fine of approximately $ 1,700 (around 1450 euros). The MLB has another investigation against him and can impose on to further disciplinary penalties based on that.
From his mega contract, with which he would earn 182 million dollars (155 million euros) in 11 years, he may not see a cent back. Franco was therefore a big promise in the MLB. The Kortestop was the youngest debutant in the history of the Rams at the age of 20.