Guilty Plea In Orange Child Sex Abuse Case

HIGHLAND MILLS, NY — A guilty plea in a child sex abuse case was entered in Orange County Court by a former Highland Mills man.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Edwin Rodriguez, 66, formerly of Highland Mills, pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree attempted course of sexual conduct against a child.

Prosecutors said the charge stemmed from Rodriguez's repeated acts of sexual conduct committed against a child who was less than 13 years old at the time of the abuse.

He faces up to 12 years in prison, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced Jan. 20.

Rodriguez's plea satisfied a six-count indictment, charging him with various acts of sexual conduct committed in the spring and summer of 2014. Prosecutors said that the offenses against the child involved two or more acts of sexual conduct, at least one of which was a rape.

Hoovler said sex crimes committed against children are despicable.

"I have made the prosecution of all sex offenses, especially those committed against children, a priority in my office," he said. "As a result of this plea, the victim of this defendant's offenses can receive some measure of closure and the defendant will receive the receive the punishment that he deserves."

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