Former jailer charged with sexually assaulting women

LAREDO, Texas - A 28-year-old Laredo man is now in custody for allegedly sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of two women, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga at 1:30 p.m.

A federal grand jury returned the sealed five-count indictment Feb. 6, which was unsealed upon his arrest.

Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.

On two separate occasions, he allegedly deprived two women of their civil rights. While working in his law enforcement capacity, he forcibly sexually assaulted both women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County Jail, according to the indictment.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison as well as potential fines of $250,000 for each of the five counts in the indictment.

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.