Pasco police arrest Richland school employee accused of child rape
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A Pasco man was arrested on first-degree rape charges after stepdaughter reported abuse.
- Victim told authorities abuse occurred about once weekly beginning at age 5.
- Richland schools placed maintenance worker on administrative leave pending investigation.
A 31-year-old Pasco man was arrested Thursday night on a pair of rape charges after a preteen girl told police he had been sexually abusing her.
Charging documents in Franklin County Superior Court also allege that Angel Rodriguez received oral sex from one of the girl’s friends.
He remained in Franklin County jail on Monday on two first-degree charges, rape of a child, with bail set at $200,000.
Rodriguez had his initial appearance in court on Friday and is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.
Documents show Rodriguez works in Richland School District’s maintenance department and takes home a $62,000 salary. The victim is not a Richland student, show court documents.
A spokesperson for the district said he has been placed on administrative leave while Pasco police investigate, and that the allegations appear “unrelated to the individual’s official duties.”
“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement. As this is an active investigation, and in order to protect the rights of all parties involved, we will not be providing additional details at this time. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” a statement from the district read.
Police were tipped off to the case Thursday morning after the girl confided in her middle school teacher that Rodriguez had allegedly tried to have sex with her the night before and that she had told him no.
She said he’d previously abused her and sexually assault a friend.
The friend told police that Rodriguez had begun flirting with her before allegedly asking for oral sex.
Police confirmed through a friend of the victim that she had confided in her peer “several months ago about the sexual abuse.”
Rodriguez was arrested by Pasco police at the Yoke’s Fresh Market off Road 65 and taken to the police department for an interview.
He told police that his spouse had called him and told him to leave the house. She told him that the victims had “told police something, but he did not know what it was,” according to court documents.
Rodriguez suggested to police that it could have been about “sexual harassment.”
“Angel would answer all of my questions except anytime I would ask about (the children) he would stare at the floor, he would rest his hand over his mouth and would not answer,” investigators wrote.
Police asked Rodriguez if they should get help for the pair, and he allegedly nodded his head “yes.” He said both of them were already in counseling.
“When I asked what should we get them help for, he would again stay quiet,” the document reads.
He was booked into the Franklin County jail about 7 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 1:02 PM.
