On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, a Grayson County jury sentenced Christy Allane Rodriguez, 49, of Denison, to 5 years in prison for Harassment of a Public Servant. The verdict was returned after a two day trial in the 397th District Court before Judge Brian Gary.
On July 15, 2014, Denison Police Officer Holly Jenkins responded to Rodriguez’ residence in the 200 block of S. Hull Street in Denison after Rodriguez called police to report that she had been the victim of a theft as her friend had used her food stamp card without her permission. Upon questioning, Officer Jenkins determined that an offense report could not be taken because Rodriguez had voluntarily given the card to the person and had given him the pin number. Jenkins also noticed signs of intoxication on Rodriguez. When Jenkins began to leave, Rodriguez followed the officer from the apartment and into the breezeway of the apartments and continued to make statements, which the officer could not understand because of the slurring of Rodriguez’ words. Officer Jenkins noted that Rodriguez was heavily intoxicated and Jenkins had to catch her at one point when Rodriguez lost her balance. After determining that Rodriguez was a danger to herself or others, Jenkins place Rodriguez under arrest for Public Intoxication.
Upon being arrested, Rodriguez began to resist Jenkins and another officer, and when placed in a patrol vehicle, began to kick the inside of the vehicle and scream profanities and threats at the officers. After being warned that she faced additional charges for the behavior, Rodriguez then spit through the metal cage partition in the vehicle, and her saliva struck Officer Jenkins in the face and arms.
“It is a felony crime to cause bodily fluids to contact an officer in the course of their duties,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown. “Police officers obviously have to deal with difficult people as part of their jobs, but they absolutely should not have to be subjected to being spit upon. We appreciate the respect this jury had for the difficult job of police officers.”
The jury deliberated less than 10 minutes before finding Rodriguez guilty of Harassment of a Public Servant. The charge, originally a 3rd Degree Felony but enhanced to a higher category because of Rodriguez’ prior conviction for a felony, carried a punishment range of 2-20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. During the punishment portion of the trial, jurors learned that Rodriguez had previously been to prison for felony Driving While Intoxicated, and had other convictions for Theft and Endangering A Child.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Bi Hunt and Nathan Young. Sherman attorneys Marcus Olds and David Wilson represented Rodriguez.
