The Rays shortstop has been formally summoned to answer charges of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor, a day after authorities visited two residences in the Dominican Republic to search Wander Franco, ESPN reported Wednesday. reported.
According to Spanish-language reports, the Santo Domingo Children and Youth Prosecutor’s Office raided Franco’s mother’s home in Bani, Peravia state, and his home in Villa Real on Tuesday.
ESPN reported that authorities have instructed Franco and his lawyer to attend a meeting with prosecutors starting at 11 a.m. Thursday. If the 22-year-old does not comply with this first formal summons, it is unclear whether prosecutors will give him another chance to appear voluntarily or if a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
William Aish, sports editor for the Dominican Republic’s El Nuevo Diario newspaper, said local authorities had not provided additional information about the nature of Tuesday’s raids in Villa Real and Bani. There is also no explanation as to why implementation was delayed until the day after Christmas.
“All they say is, ‘We’re investigating,'” Aish told the Tampa Bay Times. “…Several people who witnessed the search reported that authorities provided a phone number to contact Franco’s family.”
Franco returned to his native Dominican Republic earlier this month and has been the subject of a four-month investigation by Dominican authorities and Major League Baseball. During the season, he was placed on administrative leave under MLB and the Players Association’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.
Santo Domingo prosecutors have not responded to multiple requests for arrest warrants or subpoenas for Franco. Dominican authorities previously said they could not share details while the investigation was ongoing.
Rays and Franco’s U.S.-based attorney, Jay Reisinger, declined to comment Wednesday.
Times staff writer Christy Ackert contributed to this report.
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