By Brian Lee The Telegram & Gazette (Worcester)
The Providence Journal, R.I.
UXBRIDGE, Mass. — A Uxbridge firefighter was charged with indecently assaulting two young girls during three separate incidents within the year.
Firefighter Abraham Rodas, 45, of 37 North St., second floor, Douglas, pleaded not guilty Friday in Uxbridge District Court to three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14.
Judge Gerald Lemire ordered Rodas held on $10,000 bail, and to stay away from the alleged victims and their families, and children under 16 except for his own 10-year-old daughter.
After the court session, Rodas, surrounded by family members, got into an SUV.
Rodas’ lawyer, Ed Myers, said in an interview: “He has pled not guilty. He’s going to aggressively defend, and he hopes that everybody just lets the process play out.”
Myers confirmed that his client “is employed as a firefighter with the town of Uxbridge. I’m not sure of the status at this time.”
No one answered calls at the Fire Department or town manager’s office Friday. Town Hall offices are normally closed on Fridays.
Rodas is to return to court for a pretrial hearing Sept. 10. He was arrested on a warrant.
Assistant District Attorney Krista Wallace said that three incidents occurred within the past year, on unspecified dates.
According to the police report, one of the victims, a girl about 10-years-old, told investigators during a forensic interview Wednesday that Rodas assaulted her in Rodas’ apartment. The girl said Rodas sat on a couch when she walked into his living room. She said he kissed her on the lips, and would regularly kiss her on the cheek for “too long.”
The date of the incident was not specified.
A second victim, who was also approximately 10, said that she was assaulted on two occasions. She said that on a date not specified, Rodas approached her from behind and grabbed her. She said he hugged her tight and she told him to stop, but he wouldn’t. She told investigators she had scratches on her arms and chest. She told investigators that he put his groin against her backside and grabbed her chest while he swayed side to side for about five seconds. The girl said she was scared.
On another occasion, the girl told the forensic interviewer, Rodas hugged her from the front, with his stomach against her chest and his groin against hers.
This isn’t the first time Rodas was accused of inappropriate conduct.
Wallace said that Rodas was indicted in 2008 on similar type charges.
Rodas was fired from his job as a firefighter in Douglas following a conviction for assault and battery. He was found not guilty of statutory rape by a Worcester Superior Court jury.
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