A 47-year-old Edmonds paraeducator, Roberto Rodriguez, was charged Tuesday (Feb. 24, 2026) with multiple counts of child rape after prosecutors say he groomed and sexually abused a deaf student he had tutored for years. Court records state the girl, who used sign language and text to communicate, was around 10 when the alleged abuse began. Rodriguez later posted $750,000 bail and is now out of custody while the case moves through the courts.
The investigation started after the girl’s mother reportedly found hundreds of sexually explicit messages on the student’s iPad. She contacted police along with school and district officials, who say they are cooperating with law enforcement. In a letter to families, the Edmonds School District said the paraeducator had been placed on administrative leave and trespassed from all district property. The district also told families that counselors and support staff are available to students, as outlined in its message to families reported by KIRO 7.
Charging documents obtained by FOX 13 Seattle allege the abuse began in an upstairs attic workspace during the COVID-19 pandemic, when private tutoring sessions were moved out of the family dining room. Detectives reviewed dozens of screenshots the family saved that prosecutors say show Rodriguez bragging about taking the victim’s virginity, arranging future sexual encounters and scolding the girl for slow replies. The records also indicate the teenager became distraught after the messages were discovered and was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital for an emergency mental-health evaluation.
Charges And Court Status
Edmonds police arrested Rodriguez in mid-January and booked him into the county jail on suspicion of rape and related offenses, according to authorities. The department has said it is coordinating with prosecutors while investigators review evidence and look into whether there may be other victims. Local outlets first reported the arrest and early details of the investigation, per HeraldNet…