Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in his native Dominican Republic. However, the Rays shortstop dodged jail time despite pleas from prosecutors to put him behind bars. Franco was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison sentence by the three judges presiding over the case in Puerto Plata Collegiate Court. The conviction was unanimous among the judges and comes with conditions that need to be met the biggest being sternly told to Franco by Judge Jakayra Veras Garca. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, left, reacts during his trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, June 26, 2025. AP Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you dont like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time, she said to him, the A sociated Pre s reported. The once-touted MLB player was arrested last year after he was accused of having a monthslong relationship with an underage girl when she was just 14 then paid off the victims mother in order for her to consent to the relationship. Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays throws out Zack Short of the Detroit Tigers at first base during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on August 5, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images Francos lawyer, Irina Ventura, said that justice was not done and that she would appeal the ruling. The one-time Rays shortstop had also been facing sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking charges, but was acquitted of those. Franco was 21 at the time of the illegal relationship with the female victim. The trial had originally been slated to start in December before it was pushed to this month. Explore More The victims Anthony Bender Jersey mother was also convicted Thursday of sexually trafficking her daughter and was given a 10-year prison sentence, along with having all a sets acquired through the course of Francos crime seized, ESPNs Juan Arturo Recio reported. Veras verbally reviewed the evidence that prosecutors had presented during the trial and the judge called it a somewhat complex proce s. The court has understood that this minor was manipulated, she said. Dominican profe sional baseball player Wander Franco attends his trial for sexually abusing a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic June 26, 2025. REUTERS Franco was described as looking expre sionle s as the proceedings continued, the AP reported. Dominican prosecutors had called for Franco to receive five years in prison, and earlier this month they said that they had convincing evidence the Rays player had committed the crime. The accusations against Franco first surfaced online in posts on social media in August 2023, which have kept him away from baseball since. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco reacts after hearing his sentence during his trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, June 26, 2025. AP He has maintained his innocence since then and, speaking in front of the court Monday, he told the three judges, We expect justice. Franco has been on MLBs restricted list since charges were filed in July 2024. Though the decision by the judges can be appealed, any future in baseball seems slim due to the difficulty he would face trying to receive a work visa in the United States with a conviction. MLB is also still conducting an investigation into Franco, and he could face further discipline under the leagues domestic violence, sexual a sault and child abuse policy. We are aware of todays verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time, the league said in a statement. David Hensley Jersey