In what most already know, Cecilio Rodriguez of the local band Cecilio and Kapono was arrested last week on charges of sex crimes against two Los Angeles women when they were minors. We are now hearing news that Cecilio Rodriguez probably had other victims as well, this according to the L.A. Sheriffs office.
Rodriguez was released on a $200,000 bond over the weekend after he was arrested. The singer pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Compton Municipal Court to charges of sex offenses against two children from as far back as 15 years ago in Los Angeles, according to court documents. He was on a West Coast tour and had recently played in Redondo Beach.
Rodriguez’s preliminary hearing is set for October 13th, which will coincide with his court appearance in Compton, California. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Rodriguez faces a maximum imprisonment of 10 years if convicted.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau said that based on their investigation, there may have been more victims in the past, including victims in Hawaii.
What Are the Charges Against Cecilio Rodriguez?
The two-count felony complaint against Rodriguez said one sex crime occurred with an underage girl between Nov. 6, 1997, and Nov. 5, 1999. The second occurred with another girl between May 6, 1996, and May 5, 1998, according to the complaint. Rodriguez posted bail and was released on Saturday.
As is the case with many child molestation cases, the girls were family friends with the Hawaiian entertainer. One of the victims told Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives the abuse occurred in Carson, Calif. The girls were 5 and 8 years old at the time, Carson police said.
Under California law, charges may be filed for felony sex crimes committed against victims younger than 18 who come forward before their 28th birthday.
Rodriguez was convicted of attempted sexual assault 17 years ago in Hawaii County. He pleaded no contest to attempted sexual assault in the second degree in 1994 and was sentenced to one year in jail, 500 hours of community service and mandatory participation in a sex-offender treatment program.
As part of his 1994 deferred acceptance plea, which would erase the conviction from his record if he stayed out of trouble for 10 years, he was ordered to avoid employment where he would be with children under 14 without the supervision of an approved adult. He also was prohibited from making contact with any minor child without the permission of his probation officer, according to Hawaii court records.
Based on the facts above, it is indeed not a stretch to think that Cecilio Rodriguez does have more victims. How many? Well that will remain to be seen. More and more keeps developing from this case, so it should be interesting to see if others step forward now that this initial news has broke.
Cecilio Rodriguez is half of the beloved Hawaii band Cecilio and Kapono. No further comments have been made by Henry Kapono on this matter.
When i was 18 and lived on Kauai , I worked as a waitress at a place called the Oar House in Nawiliwili. Cecilio used to come in to the bar to stare and flirt with me. I went to my car one night to get something and he followed me and jumped in, locked the doors and tried to sexually assault me. Somehow I got out and never spoke of this to anyone. Some of my friends got together last night, we were all friends in Hawaii in our 20’s and I told of the incident to one of them. She asked me if I had heard that Cecilio had been convicted of child molestation, and accused of sexual assault. I had not heard about this but it sent chills up my spine… I can’t even begin to imagine how many have been through this and have not said anything about it! He needs to stay in prison because he will do it again!!!!!!!!!!