arizona news
Has been updated: January 25, 2023 at 3:24 PM
Jess Rodriguez. (Photo courtesy of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
PHOENIX—A man has been arrested in Maricopa County on nearly a dozen counts alleging sexual assault and conduct with minors, officials said Wednesday.
Jess Rodriguez, 30, is facing 11 charges, including sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor, and child sexual abuse, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. says.
Rodriguez’s investigation began in July 2022 after a victim of an unrelated crime informed authorities of an unreported sexual assault allegation that occurred two years ago, the release said.
The MCSO Special Victims Unit then partnered with Valley agencies such as the Glendale Police Department SVU, the Phoenix Police Department Child Crime Unit, and the Peoria Police Department SVU to bring more to the suspect before he was arrested on Saturday. We have collected evidence of
Rodriguez claims to have sexually assaulted at least three victims.
“This child predator, who we are currently suspecting, got in touch via social media applications and started meeting and befriending these people. It’s a common tactic predators use on social media. Joaquín Rodriguez said KTAR News 92.3 FM on wednesday.
“He was able to contact these underage victims and apparently sexually assaulted them.”
Rodriguez was also allegedly involved in the crime via emails, social media profiles, and usernames through multiple NCMEC cyber tips.
“Crime against children remains a top priority for the sheriff’s office,” Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said.
“This shows an extraordinary effort by agencies across multiple jurisdictions to keep child predators off the streets.”
Rodriguez’s investigation is ongoing, and detectives are working to identify an unknown victim.
Anyone with information about Rodriguez should call the MCSO SILO unit at 602-867-8477 using the designation “IR22-017556”.
Patricia Valencia of KTAR News 92.3 FM contributed to this report.
