Emmy-winning Fox40 reporter Sabrina Rodriguez arrested for shoplifting, resigns, splits with fiance

Updated
How Competing Stations Are Covering Award-Winning Journalist's Arrest
How Competing Stations Are Covering Award-Winning Journalist's Arrest


An Emmy Award-winning Sacramento journalist Sabrina Rodriguez was arrested for something she's reported about before ... shoplifting. And competing local news stations are having a field day.



And they've been digging extra deep into the story, probably looking for gold -- or ammo, that is.

As for KTXL, the station the reporter worked for, it only posted a short piece about the incident and didn't go into much detail.

Although the local stations might have been blown up the story a bit, it is getting national attention. Here's what happened: KTXL reporter Sabrina Rodriguez turned herself in Thursday after a warrant was issued for her arrest for grand theft, burglary and conspiracy in a shoplifting incident that took place in 2013 -- which means she's facing felony charges.

According to local stations, police say she helped steal $2,500 worth of merchandise from a Coach outlet store, and an employee recently recognized her as a local TV reporter. Rodriguez made bail and has been released. The man police say acted as her accomplice -- her former fiancé Nicholas Gray -- was also arrested and faces additional unrelated charges.

Rodriguez made bail and has been released. The man police say acted as her accomplice -- her former fiancé Nicholas Gray -- was also arrested and faces additional unrelated charges.

According to KOVR, he's behind bars for charges of arson, battery, manufacturing meth and possession of marijuana.

And Rodriguez's attorney says Rodriguez wouldn't even be in this mess if she had made better choices when it comes to relationships. From KXTV: "There's no doubt in my mind that Miss Rodriguez, with her stellar career and her tremendous life choices that she's made up until that point, would not be in this type of trouble had she not been associated with this individual."

Rodriguez's public relations consultant says Rodriguez has recently severed her ties with Gray.

And according to the short story KTXL reported about Rodriguez, she resigned Tuesday. She announced her resignation on Facebook:
"I am heartbroken to say, I have decided to resign my position at FOX40. Given the recent media attention I feel it was the best decision to make.

The past three years at FOX40 have been absolutely wonderful. From management to my colleagues in the newsroom and other departments, everyone is talented and kind. It's been a blessing to work and learn from all of you.

To the viewers, thank you for your incredible love and support. It's overwhelming.

Resigning was not an easy decision to make, but it's one that will allow me to focus on my case and work to reestablish my good name."

Rodriguez says she is innocent. She will be arraigned Aug. 29 in the Sacramento County Superior Court.

More on AOL:
Newark, New Jersey named 'unfriendliest city'
250 million-year-old cobra rock topples in Southern Utah
Mother who spent 6 days trapped in crashed car drives again

Advertisement