Lynn man convicted of rape of a child

SALEM – A Salem Superior Court jury that convicted a 39-year-old Lynn man of raping and molesting the daughter of his girlfriend over a four year period is headed to prison for up to 20 years.Zenon Rodriguez, who last lived at 66 Rogers Ave., Lynn, was found guilty Monday morning of three counts of rape of a child with force, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 as well as assault with intent to rape a child.The jury comprised of four women and eight men deliberated for about three and one-half hours over a two-day span before reaching their decision.Rodriguez showed no emotion as the foreman read the verdict aloud, but the victim’s family cheered and applauded.”I am no longer the same. I hope this man knows he has changed my life. I am happy I spoke out,” said the now 15-year-old victim in a statement read aloud before the court by Assistant District Attorney Kate B. MacDougall following the verdict.Judge Howard J. Whitehead noted that the acts purportedly will be a life-altering event for the victim and said she will be afflicted for the rest of her life, as he explained that a “significant” sentence is warranted.”Sexual abuse of children is unnatural and inhuman,” Whitehead said as he sentenced Rodriguez to serve not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years in state prison.When Rodriguez gets out of prison, he will also be on probation for another 10 years.The victim took the stand telling jurors that on diverse dates from Sept. 1, 2003 through June 15, 2006, Rodriguez raped and sodomized her in an apartment they lived in on Eastern Avenue as he threatened her not to tell.The Lynn teen said the incidents began when she was age 9 until she was 13. She is the daughter of his former girlfriend.MacDougall asked for a 15-to-18-year term of punishment with probation, pointing out to Whitehead the “repeated acts” and how he violated trust.”He took advantage of her,” because the victim blamed herself for her parents breaking up and he “used that against her,” MacDougall emphasized.Defense lawyer Julie Buszuwski asked for leniency asking for eight years in prison with probation saying Rodriguez “deeply regrets” his actions but accepts his punishment.Rodriguez did not take the stand in his own defense, but maintained he did not commit the charges against him and the victim was not telling the truth.Under the terms of his probationary term, Rodriguez is to have no contact with the victim or her family, he is to attend sex offenders counseling and will be subject to a Global Positioning System (GPS) as required with exclusionary zones to be placed when he gets out of prison.The judged credited Rodriguez the 637 days he has spent in jail awaiting trial on the case.