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South End Assault Suspect Was Not Listed As Sex Offender Due To Loophole

BOSTON (CBS) – The arrest in the case of a brutal rape in Boston's South End Monday morning shines a light on a legal loophole allowing convicted rapists to avoid having their names publicly posted on the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry.

Eduardo Rodriguez was arraigned Wednesday. He's accused of threatening to cut a woman's throat, forcing her to walk to a spot behind some bleachers at Carter Playground on Columbus Avenue, where he allegedly raped her.

Less than a year ago, he was released from prison after serving nine years for a similar offense. He was convicted of raping a high school teenager in 2007.

"I really didn't even know who he was," said his former girlfriend who asked not to be identified.

Rodriguez's name was not listed on the sex offender registry, which is available for the public to see.

Eduardo Rodriguez
Eduardo Rodriguez. (Facebook Photo)

Due to a ruling from the state's highest court, Rodriguez was among hundreds removed from the public list, while each one has a hearing to determine at what level they should be classified, and whether they should be put back on the list.

"I do look at that all the time because of the area I live in," said his former girlfriend. "If I'd seen his face, I never would have dated him at all, at all. I'm devastated. I'm hurt. I feel bad for the female, and it just woke me up not to trust anybody ever again, because I really didn't know who I was dealing with."

State Rep. Shauna O'Connell voiced her concern back when the SJC handed down its decision. She spoke out again after Rodriguez's arraignment.

"Sex offenders, while they're going through their re-hearings, should not be taken off the sex offender registry. We should always have access to that information because it keeps people safe," said O'Connell.

A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety said the Sex Offender Registry Board has hired more hearing officers to move the cases through and get the names of the most serious offenders back on the public list within a year.

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