Wander Franco has been arrested in the Dominican Republic, reports ESPN’s Juan Recio, who cites multiple police sources in writing that Franco’s arrest came after guns were drawn during an altercation in the parking lot of an apartment complex in San Juan de la Maguana. He and an unnamed woman are being held for questioning, per the report.
Franco, 23, is already facing trial in his native Dominican Republic after being formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor, as well as human trafficking. That set of charges stems from accusations that Franco was in a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl in 2022, when Franco was 21-years-old. If convicted, Franco faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
While Franco’s bail agreement prevents him from leaving the country, he’s still free to travel within the Dominican Republic. Recio reports that Franco would still be legally permitted to carry a firearm if he had the appropriate license and the weapon was registered. Law enforcement officials have not yet said whether Franco had the appropriate licensing and registration for the firearm.
It’s not yet clear whether this latest incident will result in any additional charges being brought forth against Franco, who is on indefinite administrative leave from Major League Baseball while the legal proceedings unfold. He’s been on the restricted list since July, where he does not collect his salary and does not count against Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster.
