Ron Rodrigues, the former county supervisor and the father of
Michael Rodrigues, contended to the Free Lance the case against his
son is
”
one of the biggest frame-ups I’ve ever seen.
”
HOLLISTER
Ron Rodrigues, the former county supervisor and the father of Michael Rodrigues, contended to the Free Lance the case against his son is “one of the biggest frame-ups I’ve ever seen.”
Ron Rodrigues requested an interview by phone after the defense finished its case Friday. He criticized the judge for “leaning toward” prosecutors’ side and he called the sheriff’s office investigation “a definite frame-up.”
“The judge is really leaning toward the prosecution side,” said Rodrigues, who served two terms on the board until 2002, when District 4 Supervisor Reb Monaco defeated him.
He also questioned the probe by the sheriff’s office, where his son worked for 25 years.
“Why would they go back so many years and try to dig up witnesses against Mike?” he said. “They were long forgotten, didn’t care about it.”
Closing arguments had been scheduled for today, but a judge delayed them until Tuesday so the defense could further prepare its statement.
Rodrigues is accused of raping four women between 1999 and 2007. He also is charged with domestic violence and unlawful penetration, and could receive a life prison term if convicted.
Editor’s note: In an attempt to best portray the tenor of the Michael Rodrigues rape trial, the Free Lance is posting a series of videos on closing statements, which wrapped up Wednesday morning. In this first part, see the beginning of both prosecutor Patrick Palacios and defense attorney Art Cantu’s final arguments.
