When Rape Is Nothing More Than Misconduct

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) -- "A former police sergeant who is married to a television news anchor admitted in court Friday that he used his authority to have sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.

Ex-Sgt. David Rodriguez pleaded guilty to official misconduct.

His wife, Darlene Rodriguez, did not accompany him to court, and was seen on WNBC-TV Friday morning.

After her husband was charged in March, she said, ``I'm here to support my husband. I believe in him. I love him. He's innocent 100 percent.''

Rodriguez was among the officers who arrested the girl's boyfriend on a domestic violence charge on Feb. 8. She claimed he returned later, alone and off-duty, and raped her.

Rodriguez replied ``yes'' when asked in court if he used his authority to go to the girl's home to have sexual contact with her. His attorney, Stephen Worth, told reporters afterward: ``There was never intercourse.''

``As we said all along this was never a rape case,'' said Worth.

He said Rodriguez resigned from the New Rochelle force last week.

Under the plea bargain, Rodriguez was given a one-year conditional discharge, which is similar to probation, and ordered to stay away from the teen for five years.

``Today Mr. Rodriguez did what was best for his family,'' said Worth, adding that the deal ``allows everyone to move on with their lives.''

Unless one happens to be the 17 year-old. Who was "persuaded" to have sexual contact with this dog, and shades of Bill Clinton and his it'd-be-funny-if-it-weren't-so-sick plea concerning the definition of sex. The wealthy, which is self-explanatory, and the powerful, such as members of law enforcement who are held to lower standards that continue to beggar explanation, have a certain degree of free reign (intentional sic) over the rest of us, despite the best intentions of our Founders.

Not much we can do about the rich & famous, except to refrain from contributing to that which spawned their celebrity, but for the love of Pete why are we tolerating such a constabulary?

Thanks to The War on Guns for the link.