Boynton Beach Mayor Arrested On Corruption Charges
BOYNTON BEACH (CBSMiami) – The Mayor of Boynton Beach has been released from jail after being arrested on corruption charges. Mayor Jose Rodriguez posted an $8,000 bond Thursday night after turning himself in at the Palm Beach County Jail. According to the probable cause affidavit states Rodriguez used his position as mayor to obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation against him. The investigation involved allegations of abuse involving his estranged wife and her daughter. Officials say in August 2011, the mayor’s wife called Boynton Beach police saying she feared for her safety because of him. As a result, Boynton Beach Police launched an investigation and so did the Florida Department of Children and Families. According to the affidavit, its alleged Rodriguez contacted both the Boynton Beach Chief of Police and the Boynton Beach Interim City Manager for the purpose of obstructing the investigation. The State Attorney’s Office charged Rodriguez, 49, with unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, solicitation to commit unlawful disclosure of confidential criminal information and resisting, obstruction or opposing a law-enforcement officer. State Attorney Michael McAuliffe stated: “The allegations in this case involve an elected official using his position and status as mayor to intimidate law enforcement in order to protect himself from scrutiny. The alleged abuse of power also included using a mayor’s access to others in government to obtain confidential criminal investigative information – about a pending investigation into the mayor’s private conduct. Of course, these allegations center on using power to avoid scrutiny and accountability. The allegations reflect the opposite of public service. The message is simple – elected officials must honor the requirement and expectation that they serve the public good and not their own private interests. The case involves an alleged corruption of process and principle.” If he’s convicted, he could get up to 17 years behind bars.
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Boynton Beach Mayor Arrested On Corruption Charges