Former Sgt. Mike Rodrigues’ attorney said his client accused of
rape felt
”
humiliated
”
by his arrest and jailing Tuesday, while Sheriff Curtis Hill
noted how his deputies acted on a court order and it
”
wasn’t something the sheriff’s office dreamt up.
”
HOLLISTER
Former Sgt. Mike Rodrigues’ attorney said his client accused of rape felt “humiliated” by his arrest and jailing Tuesday, while Sheriff Curtis Hill noted how his deputies acted on a court order and it “wasn’t something the sheriff’s office dreamt up.”
The sheriff’s office had a court order Tuesday to arrest Rodrigues because authorities believed his $300,000 bail had expired one year after he posted it in December 2007. Deputies took him to the jail in a security van, but a judge called off the arrest before authorities booked Rodrigues.
Deputy District Attorney Patrick Palacios told the Free Lance that the judge requested the court order. Beyond that, he declined to comment on the arrest.
Judge Harry Tobias ordered his arrest because authorities believed his bail terms had expired, as is customary after a year. He was released after a bondsman clarified to the judge that the bail had no expiration.
His attorney Art Cantu said Rodrigues was handcuffed, placed in the transport vehicle with a man convicted of manslaughter and taken to the jail, where he stayed for a short while before being released. Cantu said Rodrigues had to start walking home before his parents picked him up.
“He felt the sheriff’s office was going out of its way to treat him like a criminal,” Cantu said. “He was humiliated for having to ride … with a convicted gang member, that he was handcuffed and taken to the county jail. He was humiliated.”
The sheriff responded to Cantu’s remarks by saying that Rodrigues “needs to talk to the court” about the arrest. Hill pointed out that “people get arrested every day of the week.”
“My deputies were acting on a court order,” Hill said. “It wasn’t something the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office dreamt up. It is what it is – a court order.”
Rodrigues in December 2007 was indicted by a grand jury alleging three counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration and one count each of spousal rape, attempted rape and domestic violence. Authorities in September charged him with an additional rape count, along with felony charges for weapons and ammunition possession and misdemeanor violations of restraining orders.
Rodrigues is expected to face a jury trial starting June 22.
District Attorney Candice Hooper declined to comment on Rodrigues’ arrest.
“Talk to Patrick (Palacios), not me,” Hooper said. “He was the one in court. He was the one handling it. I would call my office and ask to speak to him.”
