Audel Leonardo Lopez Rodriguez, age 26 of Monett, entered an Alfored plea of guilty to four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree when he appeared before Judge Robert S. Wiley on August 18.
The plea came just prior to the selection of a jury. Wiley sentenced Rodriguez to 15 years on each of the four counts. The sentences are to run concurrent with each other.
“The state is pleased with the sentences in this case. While we were prepared to proceed to trial on the case, the plea eliminates the need of the victims testifying before a jury,” said Robert E. George, Lawrence County prosecuting attorney. “Our victims were 10 and 11 years of age at the time of the offenses. While both were prepared to testify against the defendant, they were relieved that they did not need to face him in the courtroom.”
According to statement of facts presented to the court, Rodriguez was a live-in boyfriend of the victims’ mother. Between September 1, 2008, and April 1, 2009, Rodriguez touched the genital area of both victims and had one victim touch him in a sexual manner.
One of the victim’s told her mother about what had happened, and the mother immediately took the girl to a hospital. A hotline report was made and the Department of Social Services and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation into the allegations. The children were interviewed at the Pierce Child Advocacy Center.
“I am very pleased with the work of the Department of Social Services, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Child Advocacy Center. Because of the hard work of the agencies, the children were spared the trauma of testifying in front of the defendant and a number of adults,” George said.
Because of the defendant’s immigration status, the defendant will be deported once he has completed his sentence. The defendant must serve 85 percent of the 15-year sentence before he is eligible for parole.
