District Attorney Candice Hooper told the Free Lance she was
”
pleased
”
with the outcome of the Michael Rodrigues trial, while a
sheriff’s office spokesman said the department can’t comment for
now because there is an outstanding civil suit pending against the
county from one of the accusers.
HOLLISTER
District Attorney Candice Hooper told the Free Lance she was “pleased” with the outcome of the Michael Rodrigues trial, while a sheriff’s office spokesman said the department can’t comment for now because there is an outstanding civil suit pending against the county from one of the accusers.
“I’m very pleased with the verdict,” Hooper said Monday. “Hopefully, this will allow the victims some closure.”
Rodrigues was found guilty of raping three women – with a total of four counts – by a jury whose verdict was read Friday. Rodrigues raped the women between 1999 and 2006.
Hooper oversaw the December 2007 grand jury proceeding that resulted in the initial indictments against Rodrigues, but she handed over the pre-trial and trial prosecution to Deputy District Attorney Patrick Palacios.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Roy Iler, meanwhile, declined to comment due to the pending civil action from the accuser whose allegations resulted in the four not guilty verdicts.
Sheriff Curtis Hill did not return phone calls before publication.
Below, see video of the verdict and arrest Friday:
