Overview

• A Dominican Republic court ruled on June 26 that Franco committed sexual abuse in a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old and imposed a two-year suspended sentence.
• Franco retains the right to appeal and must comply with probation conditions, including avoiding contact with minors, to prevent serving prison time.
• The victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sex trafficking her daughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Major League Baseball has kept Franco on its restricted list without pay under his $182 million contract while its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy investigation remains open.
• His conviction, classified as a moral turpitude offense, jeopardizes his ability to obtain a U.S. work visa and he still faces a pending firearm-possession charge in the Dominican Republic.