A former Los Angeles police officer, William Alexander Rodriguez, has been sentenced to six years in state prison for forcibly raping a woman while he was off-duty. The sentencing was delivered by Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba, who described the act as a “forcible, violent act” committed by a sworn police officer. The victim was left in a vulnerable state near an area known for prostitution.
Judge Torrealba also ordered Rodriguez to register as a sex offender for life and prohibited any contact with the victim for ten years. The defense’s request for a new trial was denied, and the judge expressed hope that Rodriguez would use his time in prison for self-reflection and to take responsibility for his actions.
The victim’s uncle expressed the impact of the incident, calling it a “nightmare” and emphasizing that Rodriguez must recognize the wrongfulness of his actions.
Rodriguez, who testified in his own defense, was convicted of forcible rape for the assault on the woman. The incident occurred on August 16, 2015, after the victim left a Hollywood nightclub under the influence of alcohol and accepted a ride from Rodriguez to locate her truck in South Los Angeles.
The prosecution detailed that Rodriguez drove her to a secluded location near Figueroa Street, a known prostitution area. He forcibly raped her, leaving her injured and bleeding before abandoning her. The victim sought help from strangers.
The woman, referred to as “Jane Doe 1,” had been a virgin. Rodriguez claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was consensual, contradicting the prosecution’s evidence.
The prosecutors highlighted the significance of Rodriguez’s breach of trust as a police officer, even in his off-duty capacity, which compounded the severity of his actions.
Rodriguez’s attorney, James Blatt, acknowledged his client’s prior achievements as a U.S. Marine and his service in the Los Angeles Police Department but argued for a lesser sentence. The defense presented the incident as an instance of extremely poor judgment unlikely to recur. They sought a three-year prison term.
Although Rodriguez was acquitted on charges of raping a female acquaintance at his home in 2018 and raping an intoxicated victim relating to the 2015 attack, he was found guilty of the forcible rape charge.
The investigation into the 2018 incident prompted the input of Rodriguez’s DNA into the state’s database, leading to a match with the 2015 attack.
Rodriguez was relieved of his police powers upon arrest in 2019 and has since been terminated by the LAPD.
Despite the defense’s assertions, Rodriguez’s attorney expressed regret that his client’s life would be forever changed as a result of this incident.
Upon Rodriguez’s conviction, District Attorney George Gascón expressed satisfaction that justice had been served and commended the bravery of both victims for coming forward and testifying.
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