Volunteer faces battery charges

Brooksville Assembly of God officials defend the church volunteer who is accused of raping a young boy.

By JENNIFER FARRELL

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 8, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- The Rev. David Garcia said Monday he would stand behind a church volunteer charged Friday with seven counts of sexual battery against a child who used to attend services at Brooksville Assembly of God.

"We believe he's innocent," Garcia said Monday, three days after George Rodriguez was arrested. "In our country, you're innocent until you're proven guilty."

Rodriguez, 45, whose last known address was 420 Hallcrest Ave., Spring Hill, is accused of fondling and raping a boy younger than 11 on 10 occasions between October and March, according to a Hernando County Sheriff's Office report.

He is not the same George Rodriguez who is a former Hernando County building official.

Rodriguez is accused of assaulting a child who helped with odd jobs in connection with Rodriguez's business, Zoe Home Repair. At least one of the incidents is alleged to have occurred in Rodriguez's mobile home on Old Crystal River Road in Brooksville, the report said.

Pending the outcome of the charges, Garcia said Rodriguez has been suspended from his role as a volunteer for youth activities at the church. Garcia said Rodriguez was suspended six to seven months ago as standard procedure when police first notified him of the allegations.

"We know him as a fine family man," Garcia said. "He's done a fine job."

Church business administrator Lee McKeown, likewise, defended Rodriguez.

"Many people I know that know George Rodriguez very well, feel like this is totally unfounded," he said.

McKeown said Rodriguez was found to have no criminal history during a standard background check done when he first signed up to volunteer.

"We do extensive background checks on anyone that deals with any children," he said. "Every single helper goes through an extensive background check. We spend thousands per year on background checks to make sure that this does not happen."

A check by the St. Petersburg Times shows Rodriguez has no criminal record.

Rodriguez, who church officials said was not employed there, told the Times in June 1997 that he had been a member of the church choir for five years and began volunteering in the children's church in late 1996.

"I felt the Lord calling me from the choir," said Rodriguez, who also helped with the Bible school.

Rodriguez said at the time that he also had assisted with the kids' camp program for 31/2 to four years. "You make a difference just showing the kids they can have fun with God," he said then.

McKeown said the family of the child had attended services at the church at one time, but they were not members.

Rodriguez was being held Monday evening without bail in the Hernando County Jail.

- Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report, which includes information from Times files.

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