Pubdate: Fri, 11 June 1999
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register
Section: News, page 33
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Author: From Register news services

MAN CONVICTED FOR GIVING DAUGHTER DRUGS

A Texas jury, deciding in a precedent-setting verdict that cocaine is a
deadly weapon, convicted a man late Wednesday of giving the narcotic to his
teen-age daughter.

The jurors in Comal County returned the verdict in less than an hour and
sentenced Johnny Rodriguez, 43, of New Braunfels, to 60 years in prison and
ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine.

The 15-year-old daughter testified that her father gave her cocaine when
she was 14. The testimony was key to the case.

It marked the first time Texas prosecutors have sought a finding that
cocaine is a deadly weapon - a decision they expect to be appealed.

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