The New Hampshire Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming the conviction of Christopher Andrew Rodriguez on multiple serious criminal charges, including aggravated felonious sexual assault and manufacture of child sexual abuse images. The court rejected Rodriguez's appeal challenging the admissibility of evidence obtained from his cell phone.
Rodriguez was convicted following a bench trial on stipulated facts in Rockingham County Superior Court. The charges against him included two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, nine counts of manufacture of child sexual abuse images, three counts of possession of child sexual abuse images, three counts of felonious sexual assault, one count of certain uses of computer services prohibited, two counts of second degree assault, five counts of sexual assault, one count of prohibited sales, and one count of interference with custody.
The case, designated as Case No. 2024-0344, was argued before the state's highest court on May 20, 2025, and the opinion was issued on September 19, 2025. Justice Donovan authored the court's opinion in *State v. Rodriguez*.
On appeal, Rodriguez's primary argument centered on his motion to suppress evidence obtained from his cell phone. He contended that the Superior Court, presided over by Judge St. Hilaire, erred by denying his suppression motion. The Supreme Court disagreed with this assertion, concluding that the trial court properly denied the defendant's motion to suppress.
The legal team representing the state included Attorney General John M. Formella and Solicitor General Anthony J. Galdieri, with Assistant Attorney General Sam M. Gonyea handling both the brief and oral arguments. Rodriguez was represented by Charles J. Keefe of Wilson, Bush & Keefe, P.C., based in Nashua.
The case highlights significant legal issues surrounding digital evidence in criminal prosecutions, particularly involving allegations of child sexual abuse. Cell phone evidence has become increasingly crucial in prosecuting cases involving child sexual abuse images and related offenses, as these devices often contain digital evidence of criminal activity.
The charges Rodriguez faced represent some of the most serious criminal offenses under New Hampshire law. Aggravated felonious sexual assault carries severe penalties and reflects the state's commitment to prosecuting sexual crimes against minors. The manufacture and possession of child sexual abuse images are federal and state crimes that prosecutors pursue aggressively.
The fact that Rodriguez's case proceeded as a bench trial on stipulated facts indicates that certain aspects of the evidence were not in dispute between the prosecution and defense. This procedural approach can streamline cases while allowing courts to focus on specific legal issues, such as the admissibility of evidence challenges that Rodriguez raised on appeal.
The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the trial court's denial of the suppression motion reinforces the state's ability to use digital evidence in prosecuting serious crimes against children. The court's ruling suggests that law enforcement followed proper procedures in obtaining and preserving the cell phone evidence that proved crucial to Rodriguez's conviction.
New Hampshire's statutes addressing child sexual abuse have been updated over the years to reflect technological advances and changing methods of committing these crimes. The charges Rodriguez faced span multiple sections of the criminal code, including RSA 632-A governing sexual assault offenses, RSA 649-A addressing child sexual abuse images, and RSA 649-B covering prohibited computer services.
The case also involved charges beyond sexual offenses, including second degree assault, interference with custody, and prohibited sales. This breadth of charges suggests a complex pattern of alleged criminal behavior that prosecutors were able to prove through the evidence obtained, including the contested cell phone data.
The court's opinion is subject to motions for rehearing under Rule 22 and formal revision before publication in the New Hampshire Reports. The Supreme Court of New Hampshire makes its opinions available online by 9:00 a.m. on the morning of their release, reflecting the court's commitment to public access to judicial decisions.
The conviction and subsequent affirmation by the state's highest court demonstrate New Hampshire's judicial system's handling of complex criminal cases involving multiple serious charges. The case serves as precedent for similar prosecutions involving digital evidence and reinforces the legal framework for prosecuting child sexual abuse cases in the state.
Rodriguez's unsuccessful appeal means his convictions stand, and he faces the penalties associated with the multiple serious criminal charges for which he was found guilty. The case underscores the importance of proper evidence collection and legal procedures in ensuring that convictions withstand appellate review.