Hollister – Two women’s requests for restraining orders against the San Benito County sheriff’s deputy being investigated for rape and other alleged crimes will be heard at the same time, San Benito County Superior Court Judge Harry Tobias ruled Tuesday.
Amber Cecena, the cousin of Sgt. Mike Rodrigues’ wife, Kristi Rodrigues, filed a restraining order request Aug. 28.
Tobias on Tuesday continued the court hearing for Cecena’s restraining order request against Rodrigues to Sept. 28, when fellow Judge Steven Sanders is scheduled to hear a restraining order request from Kristi Rodrigues. Tobias said the orders are related and should thus be consolidated.
“The threats against Ms. Cecena seem to be a message to the wife,” Tobias said in court.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, meanwhile, has been investigating violations of a domestic violence prevention court order involving Mike Rodrigues, Sheriff Curtis Hill confirmed Monday.
Relating to that, the office is investigating allegations against him of rape and intimidation of a witness or victim, Hill has said.
Some of the alleged crimes might have been committed while on duty, Hill has said.
In her declaration to obtain a restraining order, Cecena alleged that Rodrigues argued with her the night of Aug. 24 during three phone calls, according to documents filed with the Superior Court. Rodrigues had been calling the phone of Kristi Rodrigues, Cecena stated in the documents.
The court documents stated that on a third call Rodrigues told Cecena: “Well, if you love your cousin so much, I’m gonna have to scrape her dead body off the road and throw her at you and your house.”
The delay Tuesday also came after Rodrigues’ attorney, Amanda Pekin, requested 30 days to prepare a defense before the restraining order request could be heard.
“We are in the process of getting some further records to assist in his defense,” Pekin told the court Tuesday.
Pekin, speaking on behalf of Rodrigues outside of the courtroom Tuesday, declined to comment on the restraining order requests. Rodrigues previously has denied making any threats and has called the restraining orders “ex-wife driven.”
