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ENLARGE
Rodney Eddy
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — A former substitute teacher and recent Plateau Valley School District board member allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl over five years, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Rodney Eddy, 67, of Mesa, was arrested at his home Wednesday night on a warrant alleging 36 felonies, including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, a pattern of abuse, sexual exploitation of children and obscenity.
Eddy walked out of the Mesa County Jail Thursday afternoon after posting $175,000 bond.
According to the affidavit, Eddy’s alleged victim told a Mesa County Sheriff’s investigator she was repeatedly assaulted over five years ending in 2008. The affidavit said the girl — a young teen at time the assaults began in the summer of 2003 — came forward with allegations this past May.
It allegedly started when Eddy’s wife left on a trip to Ireland: The affidavit describes Eddy and the girl viewing pornography together while performing hundreds of sex acts.
Eddy’s home computer allegedly held hundreds of images of child pornography, including photos of the girl he assaulted.
Eddy at one point allegedly gave the girl muscle relaxants and whiskey to facilitate sexual intercourse. She said she was never threatened if she disclosed the sex, but he told her to promise their involvement “was a secret.”
“... At the time of these incidents, she thought she was in love with Mr. Eddy,” the affidavit said.
District Attorney Pete Hautzinger on Thursday told a judge the allegations of grooming and assaults were “as aggravated as I’ve seen in my career.” The DA vowed to push for a long prison sentence.
Eddy has no criminal history.
Attorney Andrew Noland, who represented Eddy, said his client has been a member of Mesa View Bible Church for the past six years — three pastors sat in on
Thursday’s court hearing.
Sheriff’s investigator Peter Burg wrote in the affidavit Eddy was elected as treasurer for the Plateau Valley School Board in November 2007. He resigned this past summer.
Eddy is a former substitute teacher for Mesa County School District 51, but the affidavit said Eddy hasn’t been in the classroom for at least two years.
The affidavit said it’s unclear if he was a substitute teacher for Plateau Valley.
Eddy is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who received SWAT weapons training with the Los Angeles Police Department. A spokesperson for the city of Los Angeles confirmed Eddy’s employment as a patrol officer with LAPD from 1971 to 1978.
It was unclear why he left the agency.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com.
Rodney Eddy, 67, of Mesa, was arrested at his home Wednesday night on a warrant alleging 36 felonies, including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, a pattern of abuse, sexual exploitation of children and obscenity.
Eddy walked out of the Mesa County Jail Thursday afternoon after posting $175,000 bond.
According to the affidavit, Eddy’s alleged victim told a Mesa County Sheriff’s investigator she was repeatedly assaulted over five years ending in 2008. The affidavit said the girl — a young teen at time the assaults began in the summer of 2003 — came forward with allegations this past May.
It allegedly started when Eddy’s wife left on a trip to Ireland: The affidavit describes Eddy and the girl viewing pornography together while performing hundreds of sex acts.
Eddy’s home computer allegedly held hundreds of images of child pornography, including photos of the girl he assaulted.
Eddy at one point allegedly gave the girl muscle relaxants and whiskey to facilitate sexual intercourse. She said she was never threatened if she disclosed the sex, but he told her to promise their involvement “was a secret.”
“... At the time of these incidents, she thought she was in love with Mr. Eddy,” the affidavit said.
District Attorney Pete Hautzinger on Thursday told a judge the allegations of grooming and assaults were “as aggravated as I’ve seen in my career.” The DA vowed to push for a long prison sentence.
Eddy has no criminal history.
Attorney Andrew Noland, who represented Eddy, said his client has been a member of Mesa View Bible Church for the past six years — three pastors sat in on
Thursday’s court hearing.
Sheriff’s investigator Peter Burg wrote in the affidavit Eddy was elected as treasurer for the Plateau Valley School Board in November 2007. He resigned this past summer.
Eddy is a former substitute teacher for Mesa County School District 51, but the affidavit said Eddy hasn’t been in the classroom for at least two years.
The affidavit said it’s unclear if he was a substitute teacher for Plateau Valley.
Eddy is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who received SWAT weapons training with the Los Angeles Police Department. A spokesperson for the city of Los Angeles confirmed Eddy’s employment as a patrol officer with LAPD from 1971 to 1978.
It was unclear why he left the agency.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com.
