The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection with multiple cases of sexual assault of minors.
On January 21, 2023, The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) arrested and booked the 30-year-old Jess Rodriguez, for the following charges:
• (5) Counts of ARS 13-1406A – Sexual Assault (C2F)
• (4) Counts of ARS 13-1405A – Sexual Conduct with a Minor (C2F)
• (1) Count of ARS 13-1405A – Sexual Conduct with a Minor (C6F)
• (1) Count of ARS 13-1410A – Molestation of a Child (C2F)
In July 2022, while Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) SVU detectives were interviewing a victim on an unrelated crime, she disclosed information on an unreported allegation of sexual assault which had occurred approximately two years prior by a male named “Jessie Rodriguez.” Detectives were not able to interview the victim on the newly disclosed allegations until late December due to a medical matter. During this interview, the victim provided additional details about the suspect, which helped SVU search all available databases and opensource information. Investigators successfully identified the involved male as Jess Rodriguez, which was soon followed by the discovery of his involvement or connection to other sexual assault or sex crime allegations.
MCSO SVU met with all law enforcement agencies known to have similar sexual allegations involving Rodriguez. Other agency allegations included:
• A 15-year-old victim who stated she had met the suspect on social media in 2019, and he had used same or similar words that he used with the other victims just prior to sexually assaulting her.
• A 19-year-old female who stated that her friend had met the suspect on social media, and he used same or similar words that he used with the other victims prior to sexually assaulting her.
• Several NCMEC CyberTips were also connected to the suspect by way of his known emails, social media profiles, and usernames. CyberTips are referred to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when an individual is suspected of Online Sexual Exploitation of Minors.
• In addition to the allegations involving the social media application, the suspect was alleged to have habitually abused a female victim from the age of 9 to 11 years of age.
A 24/7 surveillance of Rodriguez was initiated to ensure no further victimization would occur prior to his arrest. SVU investigators worked around the clock for the next 24 hours to further the sex crimes case against Rodriguez, including serving several search warrants to obtain his electronic and vehicle data.
“Crimes against children remain a top priority for the Sheriff’s Office,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. “This shows exceptional work by multijurisdictional agencies to get a child predator off our streets.”
SVU investigators will continue to analyze data collected through the numerous search warrants to identify any unknown victims of this serial offender. The CyberTip information indicating possible involvement in sexual exploitation of minors by Rodriguez remains an open and active investigation.