Sutter Amador Hospital salutes the members of our medical staff for their continued expertise, skill and compassion. Our hospital and community are better because of the tremendous difference doctors make in the lives of patients and family members every day.

Thank you for taking extraordinary care of our community! 

A child molester will be committed to a state mental hospital as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) after a judge found that the offender is a continued threat to children and the community. The Amador County District Attorney’s Office (ACDA) filed a petition to have Ricky Rodriguez, 49, committed as an SVP based on his prior convictions of sexual assaults against two boys, ages 7 and 13.  

On March 10, 2015 a court trial was held before the Honorable J.S. Hermanson who announced the verdict after hearing testimony from two appointed psychologists. 

Under the law, potential SVPs are subject to mental health reviews by the Department of State Hospitals prior to completion of their criminal sentence. If the People are able to prove that the defendant meets SVP criteria, a petition is filed to have the defendant civilly committed. There are three criteria that must be met in order to designate a person as SVP. First, the defendant must have committed at least one qualifying sexually violent offense. Second, he must be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Finally, it must be found that he is likely to re-offend unless he is held in custody and treated.

If a judge or jury finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant meets the SVP criteria, the defendant is committed to a secure mental care facility for treatment until he is safe for release.

Prior to 2008, persons committed as SVPs were entitled to a jury trial every two years and the burden of proof was on the People to show that the offender posed a continued threat to the community. In 2008, the law changed, committing SVPs to an indeterminate term. Once committed, the burden is on the offender to show that he is no longer a danger to society.

SVPs who have been civilly committed following a trial are granted an annual evaluation by a DSH psychologist, who will opine whether the patient still meets SVP criteria. The hospital director where the offender is housed will also make a recommendation as to the offender.

After the annual review, if the hospital director or psychologist believes that the offender’s condition has so changed that he no longer meets SVP criteria, the offender is granted a trial, where the burden is again on the People to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the offender meets the SVP criteria.

In 1987, Rodriguez was charged with 10 counts of child molestation involving two boys under the age of 14 in San Francisco County.  Rodriguez pled guilty to one count of lewd and lascivious act involving one boy who was 7 years old at the time.  The other counts, including one count involving a 4 year old, were dismissed.  Rodriguez was placed on probation for 3 years. 

In 1998, Rodriguez was charged with two counts of child molestation involving a 13 year old boy in Monterey County.  The victim reported an incident that had also taken place five years prior.  Rodriguez pled guilty to lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14 and was sentence to 11 years in state prison.

While serving his Monterey County conviction in Mule Creek State Prison, Rodriguez was convicted of possessing drugs while in a state prison facility.  Because of the drug conviction, upon release from prison, Amador County obtained jurisdiction over the Sexually Violent Predator petition.

On March 10, 2015, an Amador County judge found Mule Creek State prison inmate Benjamin Orfiano, guilty of indecent exposure following a court trial.

Orfiano, 46, was serving a 21 year state prison sentence when he exposed himself in a lewd manner while working in the sewing room on April 29, 2014.  The instructor testified that in the 8 years she has worked as a sewing superintendent she had never been subjected to such behavior.

Judge Don F. Howard ordered Orfiano to pay a fine of $2320 and to stay away from the victim for 10 years.  Orfiano was also order to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Chapman.

McLaughlin's Daffodil Hill will be closing for the season at 4 pm on Thursday, March 19, 2015.  Although there are still areas with beautiful blooms, our daffodils are well past their prime.  This rather unusual season had us opening our gates about 3 weeks early, and closing at the time we would normally be opening.  We look forward to greeting visitors when we open again in Spring 2016.

Amador County’s 43^rd Annual Home Tour, sponsored by the American Association of University Women’s Amador Branch, will be held on April 18, 2015.

Vines,Views & Villas is a tour of rural Amador County that includes 4 homes and a history laden cemetery, all within 10 miles from the historic cities of Jackson and Sutter Creek.  The tour will be Saturday April 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be docents to guide, an art show to view, tea and cookies to enjoy, and special lunch venues will round out the tour.  Tickets are $22 or $25 on the day of the tour.

AAUW Home Tour “Vines, Views & Villa”

Date: April 18, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:  Amador County within 10 miles of Jackson/ Sutter Creek

Region:  Mother Lode

Email:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website:   www.aauwamador.org

Purchase tickets after March 16th in:
Jackson @ Lady’s First
Ione @ Ione Pharmacy
Pine Grove @ Pine Cone Drug
Plymouth @ Amador 360
Sutter Creek @ Coming Attractions
On Tour Day, tickets available at the above locations and at Amador STARS, 60 Ridge Rd., Suite D, Sutter Creek (on the right between Barron’s and Umpqua Bank, about 1/2 block east of the signal at Sutter Hill).

Purchase by mail before April 8 at:
AAUW Home Tour
c/o Sarah Hart
19974 Jesus Maria Road, Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245

Questions: Contact Lani at (209) 245-6052 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR www.aauwamador.org

Christian author speaker and ministry leader at Life Application Ministries, Linda Lange, talks about her new book " "What Was I Thinking"

Christian author speaker and ministry leader at Life Application Ministries, Linda Lange, talks about her new book " "What Was I Thinking"

Christian author speaker and ministry leader at Life Application Ministries, Linda Lange, talks about her new book "What Was I Thinking"

Jim Willams shares how Linda's book  "What Was I Thinking".impacted his life.

Ed reads jokes sent to him on Twitter with cohost Nicole Love and special guest, The Angry Leprechaun.