CAMBRIDGE — A Cambridge man is no longer facing rape charges, though eight counts of sextortion crimes have been levied against him.
Devonte Rodriguez, 37, was previously scheduled for a two-day trial this week in Dorchester County Circuit Court. But prosecutors opted not to pursue the rape charges he was facing.
On Aug. 19, Rodriguez was newly charged with seven misdemeanor counts and one felony count of causing/threatening a subject to engage in a visual representation or performance of sexual activity.
Dorchester County State’s Attorney Amanda Leonard confirmed the eight new counts stem from the same 2024 incidents with a woman that led to Rodriguez being charged with the now-dropped first- and second-degree rape counts, among other sex offense, assault and firearms crimes.
According to court documents for the sextortion charges, Rodriguez is accused of demanding a then-18-year-old woman produce photos and videos sexual in nature on four separate occasions between March 16 and April 1, 2024.
Cambridge Police Department investigators obtained message logs between Rodriguez and the woman. Rodriguez threatened to have the woman “physically assaulted by other parties for her failure to comply with his demands,†police allege in court records.
In two instances, the woman did “acquiesce to the demands,†police wrote.
Investigators interviewed the woman and reviewed social media messages, which they said reveal “her declining mental state and depression.â€
The threats “inflicted emotional distress,†court records state.
Rodriguez was released on his own recognizance on Aug. 19. A hearing in district court is scheduled for Sept. 29.
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