Nursing assistant Steve Rodriguez was sentenced to life Jan. 13 after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexual misconduct with minors placed in his custody.
His victims were severely disabled patients housed at the small Chino group home which employed Rodriguez on the night shift.
Rodriguez admitted to two counts of obtaining custody of a minor to produce child pornography, five counts of production of child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity when he made his plea in September. The final indictment against him listed four victims. The youngest victim was 6 years old, according to prosecutors’ sentencing memorandum. Due to their disabilities, one of the victims was unable to talk, others were unable to walk, and one of them had cerebral palsy.
The children were placed in the care home, which cared for only six children and was partially funded by county money, due to neglect or abuse by their parents. Court documents do not name the group home. Rodriguez was often the only staff at the home during the night.
“Mr. Rodriguez fully comprehends the seriousness of his offense and realizes that he alone is to blame for the situation in which he now finds himself. He is extremely remorseful for his actions and wishes he can take them back,” his attorney wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
Rodriguez committed the crimes from January, 2016, to May, 2020, according to prosecutors.
“Rodriguez had a duty as medical caregiver to keep his victims safe and alive, but he instead violated that trust in the most despicable way,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada in a press release. “His abhorrent abuse of disabled children was intolerable and properly sanctioned by the court. This result underscores our office’s determination to zealously prosecute those who commit these sorts of horrific crimes against children.”
The child pornography was shared to two others, Cyr Banguguilan, who worked with Rodriguez, and Miguel Bocardo, his friend, both of whom were found guilty of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. They are scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 24, according to prosecutors.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified Rodriguez’s account as having child pornography, and notified the Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation Task Force on July 12, 2021, according to Special Agent Derek Baker’s complaint. Using information provided by Google, Baker was able to identify Rodriguez’s name and phone number.
Case information
Scott Lara and Catharine Richmond prosecuted.
Edvin Flores, Edward Davis, George Rosenstock, Jared Olen and Luis Bustamante Hernandez of Los Angeles’ Matian Law Firm defended Rodriguez.
California Central District Judge John Holcomb presided.
Case No. 5:21-mj-00551.
Read the indictment here.
Read the complaint here.
Read the guilty plea here.
Read the prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum here.
Read Rodriguez’s sentencing memorandum here.
