Rene Rodriguez had been a deputy in Blaine County before being elected Sheriff in Lincoln County Idaho as a Republican. In 2019, he was arrested and charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16, four counts of lewd conduct with a minor and two counts of rape, all felonies. The victim was his adopted daughter. She told her mother in 2005/2006 when she was nine but nothing came of it. When she heard her younger sister was sleeping in his bed, she came forward in 2018 to protect her. This was disclosed to the jury and after his conviction this was the basis for his appeal, that they should not have been told. The court disagreed.
He resigned. The Lincoln County Republican Central Committee submitted three candidates for sheriff to the county commissioners to choose a replacement. He was tried in Twin Falls County for one charge and in Blaine County for six counts.
He appealed his conviction but lost.
- Idaho Mountain Express: Lincoln County sheriff facing 7 felony charges
- Idaho Statesman: Lincoln County sheriff resigns; faces 7 felonies, including rape and sexual abuse of a child
- KMVT: Rene Rodriguez found guilty on all six counts
- Idaho Mountain Express: Former sheriff sentenced to minimum of 14 years in prison
- CaseText: State v. Rodriguez
The Times-News
Twin Falls, Idaho · Thursday, November 21, 2019
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Twin Falls, Idaho · Saturday, November 23, 2019
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Twin Falls, Idaho · Sunday, November 24, 2019