The trial of former San Benito County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael
Rodrigues, accused or raping four women, is set to start this
morning around 9:30 a.m., the defense attorney confirmed.
The trial of former San Benito County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Rodrigues, accused or raping four women, is set to start this morning around 9:30 a.m., the defense attorney confirmed.
Visiting Judge Alan Hedegard had scheduled the trial to start last week, but attorneys had trouble finding the necessary 14 jurors – which includes two alternates – to get the proceedings kicked off. Defense attorney Art Cantu confirmed the jurors are in place and that opening statements should get started around 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m.
The former sheriff’s deputy, who served with the office for 25 years, is charged with four counts of rape with additional counts of unlawful sexual penetration and domestic violence. A county grand jury indicted him in December 2007 accusing him of raping three women, while prosecutors added a fourth suspected victim in the fall of 2008.
Look back for updates from opening statements later this afternoon.
