HOLLISTER
Former sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Rodrigues turned himself in to authorities Saturday and faces eight felony charges, including multiple rape counts.
His surrender at the county jail came more than 48 hours after a grand jury indicted the 25-year department veteran on charges that include: three counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration and one count each of attempted rape, domestic violence and spousal rape, according to booking information at the San Benito County Jail.
Accompanied by a bail bondsman, Rodrigues turned himself in to Lt. Roy Iler at about 2 p.m. Saturday, ending the two-day search, Hill said.
“This is what we were looking for the whole time,” Hill said. “Now it’s up to the judicial system to handle it.”
Hill said Rodrigues was booked without incident and he posted the $300,000 bail. The sheriff said he does not know if Rodrigues made a statement about the charges while at the jail.
Rodrigues’ attorney, Mike Pekin, said he is conducting a parallel investigation into the allegations and that the charges against his client are baseless. Pekin on Saturday contended Rodrigues will be cleared.
Pekin suggested the sheriff’s office had an ulterior motive behind its investigation and that the officer who investigated the criminal allegations also conducted the agency’s recent internal affairs investigation into Rodrigues.
The attorney said the office terminated Rodrigues before the criminal grand jury proceedings were held. Hill announced in November that Rodrigues was “no longer employed by the County of San Benito,” but would not confirm whether he was officially fired.
“He did it for the sheriff,” Pekin said of the investigation. “He didn’t do it for the justice system. Sgt. Rodrigues is going to be vindicated.”
Hill didn’t specifically address Pekin’s allegation, but did say this:
“That’s fine. He has a right to his opinion. The criminal justice system responds when people report crimes, and that’s what was done here.”
Pekin said that Rodrigues was out of the state when notified of the indictment and drove straight back to turn himself in. Pekin would not specify where Rodrigues had been located.
“He was 1,000 miles away on his own personal matters,” Pekin said.
Rodrigues will be arraigned on the eight felony counts on Jan. 22, according to jail personnel.
The indictment comes after Rodrigues fell under investigation in recent months for a multitude of criminal allegations, including rape.
The grand jury transcript will not be made public for 10 days after the indictment was delivered to the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, according to California Penal Code.
District Attorney Candice Hooper impaneled a criminal grand jury, which met for two days and delivered an indictment Thursday.
“I’m very thankful it was a self-surrender,” Hooper said.
Hooper added she was glad no one was hurt – including Rodrigues – before he turned himself in.
County Supervisor Reb Monaco when reached Saturday declined to comment on Rodrigues’ arrest because, he said, “It’s in the court system.”
Monaco holds the board seat occupied by former Supervisor Ron Rodrigues, Mike Rodrigues’ father.
“I know him personally, obviously, and I’m concerned for him,” Monaco said of Mike Rodrigues. “But I don’t have any other comment.”
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this story.
