THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - September 26, 2008
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - A former police sergeant who is married to a television news anchor admitted in court Friday that he used his authority to have sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl. Ex-Sgt. David Rodriguez pleaded guilty to official misconduct. His wife, Darlene Rodriguez, did not accompany him to court, and was seen on WNBC-TV Friday morning. After her husband was charged in March, she said, "I'm here to support my husband. I believe in him. I love him. He's innocent 100 percent." Rodriguez was among the officers who arrested the girl's boyfriend on a domestic violence charge on Feb. 8. She claimed he returned later, alone and off-duty, and raped her. Rodriguez replied "yes" when asked in court if he used his authority to go to the girl's home to have sexual contact with her. His attorney, Stephen Worth, told reporters afterward: "There was never intercourse." "As we said all along this was never a rape case," said Worth. He said Rodriguez resigned from the New Rochelle force last week. Under the plea bargain, Rodriguez was given a one-year conditional discharge, which is similar to probation, and ordered to stay away from the teen for five years. "Today Mr. Rodriguez did what was best for his family," said Worth, adding that the deal "allows everyone to move on with their lives."
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