Musician Cecilio Rodriguez Charged with Sex Crimes

Performer Cecilio Rodriguez has pled not guilty in Compton Municipal Court to sex crime charges in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred more than a decade ago. According to a news report in The Concert Hotwire, Rodriguez has been accused of sex crimes with a girl between Nov. 6, 1997 and No. 5, 1999 and a second girl between May 6, 1996 and May 5, 1998. At the time of the alleged incidents, the girls were 5 and 8 years old, respectively. The singer faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of these charges.

California Penal Code Section 288 states, “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”

It is important that the children of California are protected from sexual predators. At the same time, it is also important that individuals charged with sex crimes are given a fair trial and that false allegations do not result in a wrongful conviction. A sex crime conviction, especially one involving minors or young children, can result in serious consequences including prison time, hefty fines, and mandatory sex offender registration for life. Sex offenders are often ostracized from the communities in which they live despite having served their time.

The skilled Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan fight hard to protect the rights of our clients and help them receive a fair trial. If you or a loved one is facing sex crime charges in Los Angeles, please call our offices today at 866-430-8383 to schedule a free consultation.