A formerly employed police officer in Los Angeles has been sentenced to six years in state prison for the rape of a woman while he was off-duty. The sentencing took place on Thursday in a Superior Court, where Judge Shelly Torrealba described the act committed by 37-year-old William Alexander Rodriguez as “forcible” and “violent”. Despite being off-duty at the time, Rodriguez, who was a sworn police officer, left the victim stranded in an area known for prostitution, injured and in distress. Judge Torrealba criticized Rodriguez’s clear intent to evade punishment for his crime.
Along with the prison sentence, Judge Torrealba also mandated that Rodriguez register as a sex offender for life and ordered him to have no contact with the victim for ten years. The defense’s request for a new trial was rejected. The judge expressed hope that during his imprisonment, Rodriguez would reflect on his actions and take responsibility for them.
The victim’s uncle referred to the incident as a “nightmare” and conveyed to the defendant that his actions were unequivocally wrong. Rodriguez, who testified in his own defense, was found guilty of forcible rape on June 22. The attack occurred on August 16, 2015, when the victim, under the influence of alcohol, accepted a ride from Rodriguez in an attempt to locate her truck in South Los Angeles.
The prosecution’s sentencing memorandum revealed that Rodriguez drove the victim to a secluded location near Figueroa Street, a well-known prostitution area. There, he forcibly raped her before abandoning her injured and pleading for help. The victim, identified as “Jane Doe 1,” testified that she was a virgin, while Rodriguez claimed the encounter was consensual.
The prosecutors argued that Rodriguez’s betrayal of his duty as a police officer amplified the egregiousness of his crime. They cited his status as a trusted member of the community and considered his off-duty conduct when advocating for the six-year prison term.
In defense of Rodriguez, his attorney, James Blatt, emphasized his otherwise commendable life, including his service as a U.S. Marine and as a member of the Los Angeles Police Department. The defense requested a sentence of three years in state prison, claiming Rodriguez’s poor judgment was an isolated incident unlikely to recur.
Rodriguez was acquitted of separate charges for the rape of a female acquaintance in his home in November 2018 and the rape of an intoxicated victim during the 2015 attack. The defense noted that a conviction on these charges could have resulted in a life sentence.
Investigations into the 2018 incident led to the discovery of Rodriguez’s involvement in the 2015 attack through a DNA database match. Rodriguez was stripped of his police powers upon his 2019 arrest and subsequently terminated from the LAPD.
Following the verdict, Rodriguez’s attorney expressed his regret that this incident forever altered his client’s life. District Attorney George Gascón stated that justice had been served for one of the victims and commended their bravery for coming forward and testifying.
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