NC Woman Skates on Sex Crimes

(Lillington, North Carolina) In June 2007, a mother-of-two, Crystal Rodriguez, was indicted for allegedly liquoring up and committing sex crimes against two boys, ages 13 and 14, between June and October 2006.

Rodriguez was charged with three felony counts of statutory rape, four felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This week, 26-year-old Rodriguez pleaded guilty to reduced charges in accordance with an agreement with the prosecution.

Superior Court Judge Frank Lanier said he accepted the deal based on the recommendations of the Harnett County District Attorney's office. Prosecutors were acting at the request of the victims and their family, who wanted Rodriguez to get mental health treatment and not jail time.

"The reason this plea was given was because the victims did not want Mrs. Rodriguez to go to jail. The victims were adamant that leniency be shown to Mrs. Rodriguez," defense attorney Jason Wunsch said.

Therefore, one must assume that the opinions of two boys and their families were the determining factors in the adjudication of Rodriguez's case.

As a result, Judge Lanier sentenced Rodriguez to two years of probation, 48 hours of community service and a psychiatric evaluation. She must also register as a sex offender.

Defense attorney Jason Wunsch said that gender didn't play a role but I'm less than convinced. Imagine a 26-year-old man liquoring up two girls, 13 and 14, and then committing sex crimes. The thought of probation would be out of the question.