Crime & Safety
Pajaro Man Pleads No Contest To Sex Assault Of 3 Girls
He will be sentenced to 15 years behind bars, prosecutors announced Monday.
PAJARO VALLEY, CA — A Pajaro man will be sentenced to 15 years in the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation after allegedly sexually assaulting three minors, Monterey County prosecutors announced Monday.
Arturo Rodriguez, 21, is charged with rape of a minor under 14 years old, lewd act with a child under 14 and assault with the intent to commit a lewd act.
The first victim, 13 years old, came forward on May 3, 2019, and reported that Rodriguez raped her in an industrial park off of Salinas Road, prosecutors said. The victim also told law enforcement that another 12-year-old classmate texted her saying Rodriguez also had sex with her, according to prosecutors.
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When detectives from the Monterey County Sherriff's Office interviewed the 12-year-old victim, she reported that Rodriguez had also attempted to rape one of her friends who was 13 at the time, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez pled no contest to all counts, according to prosecutors.
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Essentially, that means Rodriguez did not plead guilty or admit to the crime but accepted the punishment without any admission of guilt.
Rodriguez will be sentenced on June 15, 2021.
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