Trigger Warning: This article contains references to the alleged child sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
A man who pleaded guilty to indecency with a child was hoping to walk free rather than face prison time when he appeared before Judge Stephanie Boyd in a Texas courtroom. His attorney worked to persuade the judge to grant leniency despite the severity of the crime.
Jonathan Rodriguez, 28, was charged with indecency with a six-year-old girl. He entered a guilty plea to avoid trial, jury deliberation, and any dispute over the facts of the case and admitted to the offense in court. Indecency with a child is a serious felony under Texas law.
According to the courtroom footage shared by Audit in Courtroom, prosecutors said the child underwent a medical examination that reportedly concluded she had contracted chlamydia following the incident. They added that the child’s innocence had been taken from her at the age of just six years old, while Rodriguez was 28 at that time.
Rodriguez’s attorney urged the judge to show mercy, arguing that his client was worthy of redemption. He pointed out Rodriguez had no criminal history and had never been convicted of a felony. “This is his first offense, and it is a horrendous offense, but the fact remains he has no criminal history whatsoever,” the attorney stated. The defense requested deferred adjudication rather than prison time. However, Rodriguez failed to explain his actions in court when Judge Boyd questioned him.
When asked to explain what happened with the child, Rodriguez responded, “I don’t remember doing that.” The judge pressed further, “I’m trying to figure out what your thought process was… My question is why? What were you thinking while you were doing it? That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
After reviewing the plea deal and case specification, Judge Boyd declined to grant probation. Instead, she sentenced Rodriguez to 15 years in prison, with credit for time he already served. She also ordered him to register on the s– offender list and to have no contact with the victim.
As part of his plea deal, Rodriguez waived his right to appeal. As a convicted felon, he is also barred from owning firearms or ammunition. Speaking off the record, Judge Boyd added, “I understand that sometimes people regret what they’ve done, but we can’t turn back the hands of time. So, you need to internalize what you’ve done, and hopefully this won’t happen again with you. You understand?”
Viewers who watched the courtroom footage expressed strong reactions, largely sympathizing with the victim. One viewer wrote, “Any so-called ‘man’ that does what he did to a child should be subject to immediate public execution. It is sickening, and it will haunt that little girl forever.”
The second one commented, “He pleaded guilty hoping that he would get parole. I like that judge. I knew she would give him the full 15 years.” A third one noted, “In Texas, the range for aggravated s– assault is 5-99 years or life. So this sentence is very lenient.”
Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.
