Trial on the merits begins against Wander Franco, accused of sexually abusing a minor.

Puerto Plata.- The Collegiate Tribunal of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of the Judicial District of Puerto Plata is hearing this Monday the trial hearing on the merits against the Major League baseball player, Wander Franco, accused of sexually and psychologically abusing a minor.

The accusation against Martha Vanessa Chavalier, the mother of the affected minor, accused of sexually trafficking her daughter, is also known in the hearing.

It is reminded that Franco, who is the shortstop for the Tampa Bay, is suspended until the judicial process concludes.

You can also read: Hearing against Wander Franco, accused of sexual abuse, postponed due to absence of witnesses

This is the second substantive hearing that Franco will have to attend, after the first one was postponed in December 2024.

Wander Franco was formally accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of Puerto Plata, as well as the National Directorate for Children, Adolescents and Family and the Anti-Money Laundering Directorate of the Attorney General’s Office of the Dominican Republic, for allegedly having maintained a sexual relationship with a minor under 14 years of age and subsequently sending large sums of money to her mother to prevent her from reporting him.