Rays’ Wander Franco arrested on weapons charges while awaiting sexual assault trial

Shortstop Tampa Bay Rays Hike Francowaiting inside for trial a case of sexual abusewas arrested for his involvement in an armed altercation in rural Dominican Republic, police said Monday.

Meregirdo Espinosa, a spokesman for the Dominican police, told The Associated Press that the altercation took place in a parking lot in San Juan de la Maguana, 186 miles west of Santo Domingo. Franco was arrested on Sunday. A man and a woman were also arrested and two firearms were seized, police said.

Espinosa said one of the guns allegedly belonged to Franco, who was reportedly fighting with the other man for the woman’s attention.

The police do not want to say whether there are any injuries.

Franco, 23, will go on trial on December 12 in the northern province of Puerto Plata in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. He was also charged with sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking.

Franco was released on parole on January 5, four days after his arrest on abuse charges.

Franco, who has refused to speak to the media, has said of the case: “Everything is in God’s hands.”

Franco was in the middle of his third Major League season when his career was put on hold in August 2023. 11-year contract worth $182 million with the Rays in November 2021.

Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list on July 10, halting pay he had received while on administrative leave.