Boynton Beach Mayor Suspended After Corruption Arrest
BOYNTON BEACH (CBSMiami) – The Mayor of Boynton Beach is out of jail, and out of a job, after he was first arrested on corruption charges, and then suspended from office by Governor Rick Scott.
Mayor Jose Rodriguez was suspended by the Governor Friday afternoon, after he posted an $8,000 bond Thursday night following his surrender at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Investigators said Rodriguez used his position as mayor to obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation against him, an 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.
If he's convicted, he could get up to 17 years behind bars.
The city will now have to determine how the duties of mayor will be filled while Rodriguez is suspended.
