A California Newspaper Publishers Association attorney
questioned why the transcripts from a criminal grand jury that
indicted a former sheriff’s deputy should remain sealed.
HOLLISTER
A California Newspaper Publishers Association attorney questioned why the transcripts from a criminal grand jury that indicted a former sheriff’s deputy should remain sealed.
Those transcripts – which contain testimony against former sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Rodrigues – were to be made public Monday. Rodrigues was indicted last month on eight felony charges, seven of which are suspected sex crimes.
Last week, District Attorney Candice Hooper met with a judge to have the transcripts sealed until at least Jan. 22, when Rodrigues is scheduled to be arraigned.
In court filings, Hooper contended that the transcripts should be sealed to protect suspected victims’ identities.
But public records obtained by the Free Lance both the week after Rodrigues surrendered and again on Thursday revealed the names of the three suspected victims.
Attorney Jim Ewert said there is no reason the transcripts should remain sealed.
“Their argument has completely evaporated now,” Ewert said Friday. “The charging sheet contains the names of the victims.”
At the least, Ewert said, the court should redact victims’ names from the transcripts and make it public.
Hooper said Friday that the documents will remain sealed until the Jan. 22 arraignment.
“That will be something for the court and the attorneys to discuss,” Hooper said.
On Thursday, Hooper said the court should not have allowed the names of the victims to be made public record as part of the Rodrigues criminal file.
San Benito County Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders – who allowed the transcript to be sealed Wednesday – did not return phone calls seeking comment on Friday and Monday.
Rodrigues faces eight felony charges, including: three counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual penetration and one count each of domestic violence, attempted rape and spousal rape.
The suspected crimes involved three victims and are alleged to have taken place from 1999 until as recent as November 2007, according to court documents.
