Serial Rapist Convicted, Sentenced To 35 Years For South End Rape

BOSTON, MA — A serial rapist has been sentenced to up to 35 years in prison after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a woman less than a year after his release from prison on a similar conviction, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said Tuesday.

A Suffolk Superior Court Jury on Friday found Eduardo Rodriguez, 32, of Boston guilty of two counts of aggravated rape and single counts of kidnapping, unarmed robbery, and indecent assault and battery in connection with the Aug. 22, 2016, assault.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, 2016, Rodriguez was riding a BMX bicycle as he approached a woman walking in the area of Greenwich Park and Claremont Street. Rodriguez threatened the woman with a knife and forced her to walk with him to Carter Playground. There, he sexually assaulted and robbed her of her phone and about $250.
The woman was treated at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and underwent a sexual assault examination.
Boston Police detectives linked Rodriguez to the attack through the GPS monitoring device he was ordered to wear as a condition of his probation for his earlier conviction. Those GPS records placed him at Carter Playground at the time of the assault and showed his movements to and from the location – including a stop in an alley where police later found the clothing Rodriguez had worn at the time of the assault. Security cameras along his path also captured him riding a bicycle and then walking with the victim in the direction of the playground.
The victim positively identified Rodriguez in a photo array as the man who attacked her, and relatives of Rodriguez identified the bicycle he was observed riding as one he borrowed from a family member that day.

Rodriguez’ jury trial was followed by a one-day bench trial held yesterday, during which Judge Maureen Hogan found Rodriguez guilty of aggravated rape as a subsequent offense. That finding – based on Rodriguez’ Suffolk Superior Court rape conviction for a 2007 assault – exposed Rodriguez to an enhanced sentence.

Neither of these proceedings was related to a third attack for which Rodriguez faces trial later this year. In that case, he allegedly assaulted a different woman just hours after his attack on the first victim.

At Rodriguez’ sentencing Tuesday morning, Assistant District Attorneys Amy Martin and Elizabeth Riley of the DA’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit recommended that Rodriguez be sentenced to life in prison.

Hogan instead sentenced Rodriguez to 30 to 35 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of probation, during which time he will be required to stay away from and have no contact with the victim, wear a GPS monitor, refrain from using drugs or alcohol, undergo sex offender treatment, and register as a sex offender.

“Prosecutors and police detectives worked around the clock at times to build this case,” Conley said. “But it was the survivor’s testimony that allowed us to hold the defendant accountable. Boston is a safer place with this man behind bars for three decades.”

Rodriguez was sentenced to an 8- to 10-year prison term for his earlier conviction and was on probation at the time of the 2016 offenses.

Prosecutors had recommended a term of 12 to 15 years. He is currently serving an additional three to five years in state prison after a Superior Court judge last year found that he had violated the conditions of that probation with his most recent arrest. The sentence imposed Tuesday will begin once Rodriguez’ current term of incarceration is complete.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone.

While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found at www.janedoe.org/find_help/search.

In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to survivors of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.

Previously on this topic:

Suspect in South End Rape Arrested, Identified: Police

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