High Bail in South End Sexual Assault

BOSTON, August 24, 2016— A Dorchester man previously convicted of rape was held on high bail during his arraignment for raping a woman in the South End, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ (D.O.B. 6/8/85) was arraigned today in Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of aggravated rape, indecent assault and battery, armed robbery, intimidation of a witness, and aggravated Kidnapping. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Riley of the DA’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit, Judge Pamela Dashiell imposed $500,000 bail and ordered Rodriguez to submit to GPS monitoring, remain under home confinement, and stay away and have no contact with the victim or witnesses in the event he is to be released on bail.

Riley told the court that the victim as walking alone shortly before 1:00 a.m. Monday in the area of Greenwich Park and Claremont Street when a man on a bicycle approached her and threatened her with a knife.  The assailant then forced the victim to walk to Carter Playground, where she was sexually assaulted.  The attacker stole approximately $250 from the victim’s wallet before fleeing.

After the attack, the victim was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and underwent a rape examination.  Boston Police interviewed the victim at the hospital and received a physical description of the attacker.

During the course of their investigation, detectives assigned to the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit received information that Rodriguez, who is currently on probation as part of his sentence on a prior sexual assault conviction, had allegedly cut off his court-ordered GPS monitor after the Monday morning attack.  That GPS unit placed Rodriguez traveling along the exact path that assailant forced the victim at the time of the kidnapping and assault, and his speed leading up to his arrival at the site of her kidnapping was consistent with that of a person riding a bicycle, prosecutors said.  In addition, Rodriguez matched the physical description of the assailant.

According to prosecutors, Rodriguez was convicted in 2008 of aggravated rape, kidnapping, and indecent assault and battery and was sentenced to eight to 10 years in state prison followed by five years of probation.  He was released from the committed portion of his sentence in December.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found at www.janedoe.org/find_help/search.

In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to victims of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and  a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.

Kerry Kolditz is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Rodriguez was represented by Raj Sinha.  He returns to court Sept. 23.

 

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.