Sgt. David Rodriguez, the husband of New York anchorwoman Darlene Rodriguez, is charged with forcible rape of a 17-year old girl.
Rodriguez, a sergeant in New Rochelle, allegedly raped her Feb. 9, just hours after he and three officers had arrested her 35-year-old live-in boyfriend on a domestic violence charge.
Rodriguez, a nine-year police veteran, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in City Court, agreed to an order of protection for the girl, then posted $25,000 bail. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
His wife, Darlene Rodriguez, anchorwoman of WNBC-TV's "Today in New York," was in tears as she left the courtroom, but was there to support her husband.
According to Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll, on Feb. 8, before Rodriguez was on duty, officers went to the girl's home for a domestic disturbance and arrested the boyfriend on an assault charge.
He was released on bail, and police were called again that evening. This time, Rodriguez was among the responding officers and the boyfriend was arrested again, for violating the order of protection that had been issued that morning.
The girl claims that Rodriguez, now off-duty, returned and attacked her. She did not make the claim until two days later, when she visited the Westchester County district attorney's office to try to get charges dropped against the boyfriend. Due to the duration, it is difficult to find physical evidence.
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