Midlothian man sentenced to 40 years for domestic abuse

ELLIS COUNTY – Richard Rodriguez, 42, of Midlothian, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault-family violence impeding breath with a previous conviction, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Rodriquez pled guilty on November 2, just days before his jury trial was set to begin.

The charges stemmed from Rodriguez, already a felon and prohibited from possessing a fire arm, being guilty for repeatedly assaulting his girlfriend. 

From March 2020 to April 2021, he beat and strangled her, as well as threatening her with both a knife and firearm. 

In a statement from the Ellis County District Attorney’s office, “The victim was fearful for her life and placed cameras around the house capturing several of the assaults.”

Rodriguez’ previous felony convictions include assaulting and strangling a victim, burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault, and assaulting a police officer.

“Intimate partner violence is a crime that most often occurs in the secrecy of the home,” said Ellis County District Attorney Ann Montgomery. 

“Abusers use power and control to trap victims in a cycle of violence. It took courage for this victim to video record this repeated abuse, report it to law enforcement, and free herself from this dangerous cycle.”