Gil Rodriquez

KOSCIUSKO — A Syracuse man was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Thursday, July 12, on charges related to two separate incidents. 

Gil Fabian Rodriquez, who reportedly also uses the last name Rodriguez, 24, 201 E. Baltimore St., Syracuse, pleaded guilty to domestic battery in the presence of a child and pointing a firearm, both level 6 felonies. 

According to court documents, in August 2017, police responded to a call regarding a male firing several shots into the air with a handgun. Police spoke with a male subject who stated he confronted Rodriquez about a broken vehicle window that he felt Rodriquez might be responsible for. This led to an argument, and Rodriquez removed a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and held it at his side.

The male further told police that Rodriquez got into a vehicle, pulled out of the driveway, onto the road and parked. He then held the handgun outside the window and pointed it toward the sky, discharging approximately five rounds. Six people were gathered in a group approximately 30 yards away at this time.

Rodriquez stated that when he was confronted by the other male, he felt it was in an aggressive manner so he pulled up his shirt to display the handgun he was carrying. He stated the male would not back off, so he removed the handgun, chambered a cartridge and pointed it at the male, telling him he would shoot him. Rodriquez further stated that as he was driving away, the male began to run after him, so Rodriquez fired several rounds out the window of the vehicle, into the air.

In a separate case, court documents show that Syracuse police responded to a domestic battery in December 2017. Officers spoke with a female who stated that Rodriquez was breaking everything inside the residence. Officers made entry and observed items broken all over the residence. 

The female stated that Rodriquez shoved her against a kitchen cabinet and tried to hit her with a purse. She advised that three children were present in the residence when the battery occurred. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Rodriquez informed officers that he has anger issues and was not taking his medication. He also stated that when he gets angry the female laughs at him. 

For the charge of pointing a firearm, Judge David Cates sentenced Rodriquez to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail. Cates ordered that the sentence be suspended and served on probation. As a condition of probation, Cates ordered Rodriquez to serve 45 days without good time credit, and stated he had no objection to this being served through Kosciusko Community Corrections or Work Release, provided Rodriquez is accepted into one of those programs. 

Rodriquez was ordered to successfully complete an anger management program through the Otis R. Bowen Center. The firearm was ordered to be transferred to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement use. Rodriquez was ordered to have no contact with the victim. He was ordered to obtain and maintain employment and to pay court fees. He was given two days of jail time credit.

With regards to the charge of domestic violence in the presence of a child, Cates ordered Rodriquez to serve one and one half years in the Kosciusko County Jail. The sentence was also suspended and ordered to be served on probation with the same terms as the prior case. Rodriquez was ordered to pay a $50 domestic violence fee and is not allowed to possess a firearm. He was given one day of jail time credit. 

The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. 

“You need to address your anger issues,” Cates said to Rodriquez. “Successful completion of an anger management program at the Bowen Center is part of each of those sentences. I expect that to start very soon and to be successfully completed.”