GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — 22 year-old Puerto Rican man, Anthony Rodriguez, has been sentenced to four and a half years in state prison in connection with the 2023 rape of a child in Athol. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from a 2023 New Years Day assault. ADA Covington praised the survivor for the courage to come forward and noted that the plea agreement was supported by the survivor and her family.
From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:
Man sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to rape
GREENFIELD – A Franklin Superior Court Judge on Wednesday sentenced a man to serve 4 to 4 ½ years in state prison in connection with the 2023 rape of a child in Athol. Judge Tracy Duncan sentenced Anthony Rodriguez, 22, of Puerto Rico, after he pleaded guilty to charges of statutory rape of a child, assault and battery and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older, charges that stemmed from an assault in Athol on News Years Day of 2023.
Assistant District Attorneys Andrew Covington and Jillian Parent prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Rodriguez was represented by defense attorney Emily Shallcross from the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
After Rodriguez completes his state prison sentence, he will be on probation for five years, during which he must undergo sex offender treatment, register as a sex offender and refrain from any contact with the victim.
ADA Covington praised the survivor for the courage to come forward and noted that the plea agreement was supported by the survivor and her family.
“Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to report these crimes to the police,” Covington said.
“We want to thank the Athol Police Department and Sergeant Doug Kaczmarcyk for their hard work in helping bring Mr. Rodriguez to justice.”
The case was reported to police in mid-January of 2023. After an investigation, Rodriguez was arrested in Puerto Rico on April of 2023.