Overview
- An appeals court in Puerto Plata on Tuesday set aside Franco’s June conviction for sexual abuse of a minor and directed a new panel of judges to rehear the case.
- Franco’s attorney said the ruling cited flaws and omissions in the first proceeding, which defense lawyers challenged on procedural grounds.
- Prosecutor José Martínez Montan said he believes the original evidence was sufficient and expressed confidence in prevailing again at a retrial.
- The victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, who was sentenced to 10 years for sexual exploitation and human trafficking, was also granted a new trial.
- The retrial date has not been set; Franco remains on MLB’s restricted list as the league’s probe continues, and he also faces a separate legal matter stemming from an alleged firearm incident in November 2024.