Defendant Engaged in Sexual Conduct with a Ten-Year-Old Girl

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, on Thursday, March 18, 2021, announced the sentencing in Orange County Court of Edwin Rodriguez, age 66, of New Port Richey, Florida, in connection with Rodriguez’s conviction after his plea of guilty to one count of Attempted Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree. The Honorable Robert J. Prisco, Orange County Court Judge, sentenced Rodriguez to a determinate term of twelve years in prison, to be followed by ten years of post-release supervision.

Rodriguez’s plea and sentence involved his having had sexual contact with a child in Highland Mills in the Town of Woodbury. Over the course of approximately six months, from March 2014 through August 2014, Rodriguez engaged in multiple acts of sexual conduct with a ten-year-old girl, including at least one act of sexual intercourse.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Orange County Child Abuse Investigative Unit for their investigation of the case. In addition, District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New Port Richey, Florida, Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

“Sexual abuse is despicable,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “especially when it is perpetrated against a child. It is our duty to protect our children against that type of abuse, and it is good to know that this defendant will spend a significant amount of time behind bars for his acts of abuse.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eliza Filipowski.