The office of District Attorney Micheal Murray issued the following press release Thursday:
Disrict Attorney Micheal Murray reported that on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023 in 35th Judicial District Court of Mills County, Jessie Rodriguez of Zephyr entered a plea of guilty to the offense of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault of an Adult. A trial was held before the court regarding Rodriguez’s punishment and at the conclusion of the trial, Judge Michael Smith pronounced a sentence of 20 years confinement, the maximum allowed under the law for the offense.
Assistant District Attorney Cara Landers presented evidence that in August of 2005, Rodriguez broke into the home of he victim and attempted to sexually assault her. During a struggle, he was injured with a knife and fled the scene. Deputies and investigators with the Mills County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case and processed evidence at the scene, including blood left by the defendant. In 2022, the Sheriff’s Department, along with the 35th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, petitioned to reopen the case and allow new forensic testing to be done on the blood left on scene. These new results led to the development of a suspect, and the diligent work of law enforcement, Rodriguez was apprehended and confessed to the crime 17 years later. The statute of limitations precluded prosecution of a first-degree felony. The case was tried by Cara Landers and Elisha Bird of the 35th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“It has been a deep privilege to be able to provide closure for a family who has waited so to see that justice was done,” Landers said. “We are in awe of the courage and strength of the victim and her family, both in 2005 and now, and we hope that the strong message sent by a maximum sentence will deter any future criminal acts in this community. We are also proud to support the incredible work done by law enforcement to solve this case and remove a dangerous man from the community.”