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Lebanon councilman denies domestic violence charge

Submitted Matt Rodriguez

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 1:31 PM Wednesday, October 7, 2009

A Lebanon councilman arrested this week on domestic violence charges denies he threatened his wife and says he will not resign from council.

Matt Rodriguez, 37, of 203 Columbus Ave., Lebanon, was arrested shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 by Lebanon police officers and was transferred to Greene County Sheriff’s deputies, according to police.

Rodriguez’s ex-wife, Rebecca Rodriguez, 36, of Beavercreek, told police that her husband threatened her earlier in the evening at Spring Valley General Store on U.S. 42 during an arranged transfer of their two children.

Rebecca Rodriguez said she and Rodriguez got into an argument over his being late to pick up the children earlier that week and again in returning them, according to a police report.

She said Rodriguez verbally threatened her when she said she would get in touch with her attorney.

“He leaned over the top of the car and said to me, Rebecca (sic) ‘This is nothing two bullets can’t fix,’” Rebecca Rodriguez said in the police report.

Rebecca Rodriguez said the councilman then said goodbye to his children and left without further incident before she called police.

Rodriguez appeared in Xenia Municipal Court, Tuesday, Oct. 6 where he pled not guilty to charges of domestic violence and was released on his own recognizance. He attended Tuesday’s city council work session where his arrest was not mentioned.

Rodriguez said his ex-wife’s report was a “fabrication of the truth” and that the truth would come out in court. Rodriguez said he did enter a “heated exchange” with Rebecca but would not discuss the matter further until he sought legal council. He said he did file an incident report of his own with the Lebanon Police on Sunday night regarding the exchange.

Rodriguez was first elected to city council in 2003. He was elected to a second term in 2007 in an uncontested race.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

Matt Rodriguez

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