Entertainer Cecilio Rodriguez pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of sex offenses against two children as long as 15 years ago in Los Angeles, according to court documents.
Rodriguez, 66, was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles and booked at the Carson, Calif., police station for allegedly committing sex crimes against two girls, who were both under age 14 at the time. The two-count felony complaint against Rodriguez said one sex crime occurred with an underage girl between Nov. 6, 1997, and Nov. 5, 1999. The second occurred with another girl between May 6, 1996, and May 5, 1998, according to the complaint.
The two girls are acquaintances of the singer, a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Rodriguez faces a maximum imprisonment of 10 years if convicted.
Rodriguez, of the group Cecilio & Kapono, is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail in the Los Angeles County Inmate Reception Center after entering a not-guilty plea Wednesday in Compton Municipal Court. He was represented at the hearing by a public defender.
His preliminary hearing will be set Oct. 13 at his next court appearance.
Both of the female accusers are now younger than 28 years old, according to court documents.
In both cases, the criminal warrant alleges that Rodriguez did "willfully, unlawfully, and lewdly commit a lewd and lascivious act" with children under the age of 14.
Under California law, charges may be filed for felony sex crimes committed against victims younger than 18 who come forward before their 28th birthday.
Rodriguez was convicted of attempted sexual assault 17 years ago in Hawaii. He pleaded no contest to attempted sexual assault in the second degree in 1994 and was sentenced to one year in jail, 500 hours of community service and mandatory participation in a sex-offender treatment program.
As part of his 1994 deferred acceptance plea — which would erase the conviction from his record if he stayed out of trouble for 10 years — he was ordered to avoid employment where he would be with children under 14 without the supervision of an approved adult and he was prohibited from making contact with any minor child without the permission of his probation officer, according to Hawaii court records.
On Aug. 31, Rodriguez was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and a $500 fine.
C&K formed in 1973, when Rodriguez was introduced by friends to Henry Kapono, according to the group’s website. The duo recorded more than a dozen albums.
Earlier this month, Cecilio & Kapono performed their fourth annual "Back in the Day" concert series at the Hawaii Theatre and in Waikiki. The tour continued on the mainland with dates in the West. The duo performed last week in Southern California.
Henry Kapono issued a statement Thursday morning.
"I am currently on vacation at Disneyland with my family and have just recently learned about Cecilio’s arrest in Los Angeles," he said. "I have received many calls from media and friends. I have not spoken with him and only know what has been reported in the media. I did not see this coming. I am saddened for Cecilio and heartbroken for the family involved. My heart and prayers go out to them."
Hawaii News Now video: Rodrigues pleads not guilty to molesting 2 sisters
