The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that investigators are seeking a criminal charge against Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues in connection with allegations involving a 17-year-old girl.
According to the DA’s office, Massachusetts State Police detectives have requested a clerk-magistrate hearing to determine whether an assault and battery charge should be issued.
The request stems from a complaint filed in June that resulted in a temporary harassment prevention order.
During a court hearing last month, the 17-year-old testified that Rodrigues grabbed her around the waist during a parade in May. She told the court she did not know the mayor, felt uncomfortable, and tried to pull away.
A teacher who witnessed the encounter also testified.
“To see what I saw at the moment was kind of unbelievable—it was the mayor,” band director Andrew Fantucchio said. “Watching at that moment, I saw something I thought was inappropriate.”
The allegations drew wider attention after the girl’s mother interrupted a high school graduation ceremony, claiming Rodrigues attended despite a court-issued harassment prevention order and a separate directive from the school to stay away.
During the hearing, Rodrigues acknowledged he may have touched the teenager but said he never intended to make her uncomfortable.
“I felt awful as a father of three daughters, and also as someone who has always protected children. I didn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable,” Rodrigues testified.
A judge later declined to extend the harassment prevention order, ruling that while the mayor’s conduct was unprofessional, it did not meet the legal standard for indecent behavior.
The request for a clerk-magistrate hearing does not constitute a criminal charge. A magistrate will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to move forward.
