Carthage man sentenced on 2nd degree rape charge

NewsTalk KZRG received the following news release from Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Theresa Kenney:

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that Dominique Rodriguez was sentenced on Monday, Nov.10  to five years in the Department of Corrections having entered a guilty plea to the Class D felony of Rape in the Second Degree which carries a range of punishment from two years to seven years in the Department of Corrections.

Said sentence is pursuant to a 120-day program authorized by Section 559.115.3. RSMo.

If the defendant successfully completes that program, the Department of Corrections will issue a report to the Court recommending whether the defendant should be released on probation, or whether he should serve his sentence in the Department of Corrections.

This sentence was part of a plea agreement entered into between the State of Missouri and the defendant after a thorough review of the facts of the case, the relevant law, the strength of the evidence, and detailed discussions with the victim.

By entering into this plea agreement, the State has secured a conviction which will require the defendant to register as a sex offender.

Additionally, the State avoids the uncertainty of a jury trial, and most importantly, the victim will not be required to take the stand and testify in open court the details of this assault.

A decision to enter a plea agreement is not made lightly, and only after careful consideration of the facts and evidence in each case.