Posted on: Thursday, March 17, 2005

Suspect indicted in sexual assault

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 46-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a pregnant woman with a metal bar was indicted by an O'ahu grand jury yesterday on charges of first-degree sex assault, first-degree robbery and kidnapping.

Wendell G. Rodrigues is accused of standing in the middle of Pa'akea Road in Wai'anae on Feb. 21 and forcing his way into the car of the 32-year-old woman who had stopped to ask him if anything was wrong.

According to a police affidavit filed in the case:

Rodrigues took an envelope containing $1,200 the woman had for a trip and ordered her to drive to an area under a tree. The woman tried to hit Rodrigues with a metal bar she had in the car, but Rodrigues avoided being hit and grabbed the bar.

When Rodrigues ordered her to remove her clothing because he wanted to have sex, she protested that she was married and pregnant. Rodrigues sexually assaulted her with the metal bar and fled after a vehicle passed the car.

Rodrigues was identified by the woman in a photo lineup on March 9 and was arrested the following day.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan yesterday approved the request by city prosecutors to set bail at $75,000.

City Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp told the judge that Rodrigues has a record of 94 prior arrests and convictions for seven felonies, including for burglary and drugs.

Kapp said that at the time of the offenses, Rodrigues was homeless and living out of a car.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.