EXCERPT
Posted on Tue, Dec. 02, 2003
Police arrest suspect
22-year-old UND student still missing
By Stephen J. Lee
Herald Staff Writer
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/7392190.htm
...Rodriguez grew up in Crookston and first was convicted of attempted aggravated rape and aggravated rape in 1974 in Crookston and sent to prison. During a furlough from prison in 1979, he attacked another woman, attempting to abduct her from a city sidewalk in Crookston. He was convicted of attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault in 1980.
He remained in prison from 1980 until May 1 of this year.
State officials say Rodriguez previously was known to one victim and attacked two other women who did not know him, according to state correctional officials.
Wayne Swanson, who prosecuted Rodriguez in 1980 and served as Polk County attorney from 1979 to 2002, recalled the case Monday night.
"He attempted to abduct a woman off the street," Swanson said. "She fought him. He stabbed her. She did get away from him. She was not about to go with him. She was a pretty gutsy lady."
Rodriguez was in his 20s at the time of the Crookston assault, and the woman was 35 to 40 years old, Swanson said. Rodriguez drove away after the woman fought back, but he was arrested later partly with the help of a sketch the woman made.
"The woman he attacked was a very good artist, and she drew a full head drawing of him, which I held up against him when I did the final argument - it looked like a photograph, it was that good," Swanson said.
Rodriguez was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for the assault because of his history of two previous sexual assault convictions, Swanson said.
"The judge determined that he was a very dangerous man," Swanson said.
Rodriguez also used a knife in an earlier sexual assault, Swanson said.
"I think he used a knife in all of them," he said.
According to the Department of Corrections Web site, Rodriguez has a "history of sexual contact and attempted kidnapping with adult females. Contact included penetration in two instances." It also states that Rodriguez was known to one of his victims, but not two others.
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