The California Attorney General’s Office has released additional
details regarding the search of former sheriff’s deputy Michael
Rodrigues’ home on June 4 in which authorities seized two handguns
and 700 rounds of ammunition.
Attorney General spokesman Abraham Arredondo said the team of
agents searched the homes and vehicles of both Rodrigues and his
father Ron Rodrigues. Arredondo said the two handguns, registered
to Michael Rodrigues, were found at his father’s home on Union Road
and the 700 rounds of ammunition were found in Rodrigues’ home on
Paul Drive. In addition, he said a loaded Glock handgun magazine
was found inside Rodrigues’ vehicle.
The California Attorney General’s Office has released additional details regarding the search of former sheriff’s deputy Michael Rodrigues’ home on June 4 in which authorities seized two handguns and 700 rounds of ammunition.
Attorney General spokesman Abraham Arredondo said the team of agents searched the homes and vehicles of both Rodrigues and his father Ron Rodrigues. Arredondo said the two handguns, registered to Michael Rodrigues, were found at his father’s home on Union Road and the 700 rounds of ammunition were found in Rodrigues’ home on Paul Drive. In addition, he said a loaded Glock handgun magazine was found inside Rodrigues’ vehicle.
“The fact that these weapons were at his father’s house doesn’t matter,” Arredondo said. “He needed to turn the weapons in and file paperwork to get them out of his name. He never did that.”
Rodrigues has been charged in court with multiple counts of rape and awaits trial in San Benito County Superior Court.
Kelly Cox provides cleaning services at Rodrigues’ father’s home and was watching the house when authorities completed their search. She said she arrived at the home shortly after nearly a dozen agents had begun the search. She said Rodrigues was handcuffed and sitting outside the home during the two hours it took for the team to complete the search.
“When I drove up, there were people everywhere,” Cox said. “Michael was made to sit facing away from the house and the agents told me not to speak with him. They also searched my car. After a while, I saw them bring out the two guns and put them into evidence.”
Cox said the agents found the two guns in the garage of the house and that she thought they had been “signed over” to Rodrigues’ father. She noted, however, that the ammunition found at Rodrigues’ home was unaccounted for.
“I know his father only took the guns,” Cox said. “I know the ammunition was at (Rodrigues’) house.”
Rodrigues will appear in court today for a pre-trial conference.
At his last hearing, Superior Court Judge Harry Tobias denied a request to move the trial out of San Benito County and also assigned his case to public defender Greg LaForge after the suspect said he could no longer afford to pay attorney Christopher Miller.
Since then, LaForge had said he expected having a conflict of interest on the case and Monday confirmed he would file a declaration of conflict at today’s hearing.
LaForge said he was involved with prosecuting Rodrigues when he worked at the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office approximately 20 years ago. He said this previous case puts him at odds with defending Rodrigues fairly and that the court would have to find another lawyer.
