State prison inmate Alejandro Rodriguez, 47, who was convicted of raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter in a grocery store parking lot in Ceres, has been found unsuitable for parole.

The State Board of Parole Hearings denied his request for freedom at a March 13 hearing held at California Institution for Men.

Deputy District Attorney Harmeet Dhillon argued for continued confinement.

On Dec. 12, 2014, Rodriguez pleaded no contest in a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. A month later he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Rodriguez sexually began touching his stepdaughter’s genital area when she was in the seventh or eighth grade in April 2011. The sexual assaults continued until July 2013.

On one occasion, Rodriguez began to touch the victim and unzipped her pants as I drove to the store. She tried to call for help and was unable to get away since he controlled the door locks. He continued to drive to the parking lot of Cost Less Market in Ceres where he forced the girl to lay down in the backseat of the truck and raped her.

In July 2013, Rodriguez was supposed to take victim to the store to buy something for victim’s mother. Instead he drove to a park and parked in a secluded area. She attempted to get out of the vehicle, but Rodriguez grabbed her and forced her in the back of the vehicle. As she fought him Rodriguez began to slap and hit the victim and pulled off her clothes. He again raped the girl and told the girl that if she told anyone, he would kill her mother.

A prison psychologist who interviewed Rodriguez said he still poses a moderate risk for violence if he were to be released.

The victim, father, and mother all attended the hearing and provided impact statements to the board. Deputy District Attorney Dhillon argued Rodriguez lacks insight into the commitment offense and minimizes his actions when speaking about the assaults. He also has not completed sexual offender rehabilitation programs and other required programs. The board felt that Rodriguez didn’t have a good relapse prevention plan.

Rodriguez will be eligible for another parole hearing in 2027 but that date may be moved up if he can demonstrate to the board a change in circumstances.