District Attorney Hoovler Announces
Guilty Plea in Child Sex Case
Defendant Had Sexual Conduct with a Child Who Was
Less Than Thirteen Years Old
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Edwin Rodriguez, age 66, formerly of Highland Mills, pled guilty in Orange County Court to one count of Attempted Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, stemming from his repeated acts of sexual conduct committed against a child who was less than thirteen years old at the time of the abuse. Rodriguez faces up to twelve years in prison, followed by ten years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced on January 20, 2021, before Orange County Court Judge Robert J. Prisco.
Rodriguez’s plea satisfied a six-count indictment, charging him with various acts of sexual conduct committed in the spring and summer of 2014, against a child who was under thirteen years old at the time of the crimes. The offenses against the child that Rodriguez was charged with involved two or more acts of sexual conduct, at least one of which was a rape.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Orange County Child Abuse Investigative Unit for their work on the case and their aid in the prosecution.
District Attorney Hoovler commended Assistant District Attorney Eliza Filipowski, who prosecuted the case.
“Sex crimes committed against children are despicable,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and I have made the prosecution of all sex offenses, especially those committed against children, a priority in my office. As a result of this plea, the victim of this defendant’s offenses can receive some measure of closure, and the defendant will receive the punishment that he deserves.”
A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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