GONZALES — Gonzales resident Ricardo Jose Rodriguez was sentenced Feb. 3 to more than 10 years in prison for a series of domestic violence crimes, as well as an assault in the Monterey County Jail.
Rodriguez, 38, had previously been convicted of kidnapping and causing a traumatic injury to his ex-wife in 2013 and was sent to prison. He had also been convicted of stalking her in 2019 after he was released from prison and was sent back to prison once again.
In April 2021, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to vandalism for throwing a rock through the window of his ex-wife’s brother’s vehicle after he was released from prison.
Rodriguez was released from custody before sentencing in the vandalism case. While he was out of custody, he began a romantic relationship with a relative. While they were at a hotel, another guest called police after she heard him hitting her, and he was arrested.
“While he was in custody, he threatened her to dissuade her from testifying against him,” according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. “A jury found him guilty of dissuading a witness.”
While Rodriguez was in custody after the jury trial conviction, he asked the victim to send suboxone strips — a dangerous medication used to treat opiate addiction — into the jail. While doing so, she exposed her children to the substance and was charged with conspiracy to send drugs into jail and felony child abuse.
Rodriguez subsequently pleaded no contest to bringing drugs into the jail.
In addition, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to assault after he conspired and participated in the stabbing and beating of another inmate while at the jail.
