Independence, OR.— Nearly three decades after a warrant was first issued, Independence Police have arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor in the late 1990s.
In January 1997, investigators with the Independence Police Department obtained a felony arrest warrant for Jose Antonio Rodriguez on charges of Rape in the Second Degree and Attempted Sodomy in the Second Degree. At the time, detectives believed Rodriguez fled Oregon, and despite follow-up efforts, they were unable to locate him.
The case resurfaced recently when Independence Police Detectives conducted a routine review of outstanding warrants. A detailed re-examination of the original case file led investigators to new information indicating Rodriguez had quietly returned to the Salem area and had been living undetected for years.
Detectives confirmed his identity and followed several potential leads, ultimately locating Rodriguez at his place of employment. He was contacted and taken into custody without incident on November 11, 2025.
The department said the arrest underscores its ongoing commitment to pursuing justice regardless of how much time has passed, noting that unresolved cases continue to receive investigative attention when new information emerges or opportunities arise.
Rodriguez remains held on the original 1997 felony warrant.
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