Rays’ Franco charged with gun ownership in D.R.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who is on trial on fees that come with sexual abuse of a minor, used to be charged Sunday with unlawful ownership of a handgun, prosecutors mentioned.

Franco used to be arrested Nov. 10 in San Juan de los angeles Maguana after an altercation in a car park. No one used to be injured right through the struggle, and the gun, a semiautomatic Glock 19, used to be present in Franco’s car, in line with a observation from the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The gun used to be registered within the title of Franco’s uncle, prosecutors mentioned within the observation. After the arrest, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, certainly one of Franco’s legal professionals, mentioned that for the reason that gun used to be approved, “There’s nothing illegal about it.”

Prosecutors asked that Franco stand trial at the gun price.

When reached by means of ESPN on Sunday night time, the Rays mentioned that they had no remark at the topic.

The 24-year-old Franco’s trial within the sexual abuse case — involving a girl who used to be 14 years outdated on the time of his alleged crimes — is ongoing. The fees if so come with sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and business exploitation in opposition to a minor, and human trafficking.

According to prosecutors, Franco abducted the girl for sexual functions and “sent large sums of money to her mother.”

Franco, who’s on supervised liberate, faces as much as 30 years in jail if convicted.

He used to be taking part in his 3rd main league season when his profession used to be halted in August 2023 on account of the allegations.

Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He’s lately on MLB’s limited checklist.

ESPN’s Juan Arturo Recio contributed to this file.