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 Sabrina Rodriguez was charged last week in connection with a 2013
incident in which merchandise was stolen from a store in the
Sacramento suburb of Folsom.
The award-winning anchor at the Sacramento Fox News affiliate had
said she was innocent of the charges, and on Monday the station's
website said Rodriguez had been granted a voluntary leave of
absence.
However, after massive publicity about the case, including a story
on a rival station pointing out that Rodriguez herself had done a
story on how easy it was to shoplift high end wallets, the reporter
and morning news anchor resigned.
"I am heartbroken to say, I have decided to resign my position at
FOX40," Rodriguez said in a statement posted on the station's
website. On Tuesday, she also sent a statement to the Sacramento Bee
saying she had broken up with fiance Nicholas Gray, who is charged
as a conspirator in the shoplifting case and faces additional
charges in other cases.
"I am now focusing on life decisions as I move forward with the
support of family, friends, viewers and the community," she said in
the statement, published by the Bee on Wednesday.
Rodriguez and Gray are set for arraignment in the shoplifting case
on Aug. 29. She faces three felony charges including conspiracy,
according to case information obtained from the Sacramento Superior
Court.
Rodriguez turned herself in last Thursday, more than a year after a
warrant was issued for her arrest in the case, said Jason Browning,
a spokesman for Folsom Police.
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Police questioned her at the time of the incident last year,
Browning said. Store employees recognized her from her role as a
local television anchor and reporter, he said.
Rodriguez is accused of stealing $2,500 worth of wallets at the
Coach outlet store in Folsom in 2013. Her attorney, Mark Reichel,
told the Sacramento Bee newspaper she was "completely innocent" of
the charges, but did not respond to an email request for comment
from Reuters.
Gray is alleged to have been a co-conspirator in the case, Browning
said.
Gray also faces methamphetamine, marijuana and arson charges in
another case, court records posted online show.
(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Michael Perry)
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