ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, Maria Souto-Armand Goyette Investigator Award.  The Maria Souto-Armand Goyette Award honors a staff investigator for outstanding investigative work. Maria Souto was an indefatigable CPCS investigator in the Boston office.  Armand Goyette, the first investigator at the Massachusetts Defenders Committee, was recognized as a consummate criminal defense investigator who provided outstanding service for over 25 years.

This year’s recipient is Angel Rodriguez. Angel has worked as a criminal defense investigator for 25 years, the last 10 years of which have been on staff with CPCS. Angel is the Regional Supervising Investigator for Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties. During his tenure at CPCS, Angel has distinguished himself as a consummate criminal defense investigator, as well as a first-rate manager of investigators. Angel has a well-deserved reputation for excellence among his peers, defense counsel, prosecutors, and the judiciary. Angel has coordinated major defense investigations for CPCS clients, successfully utilizing a wide range of resources. Angel is passionate about the investigations he conducts and supervises, and is deeply committed to the protection of our clients’ constitutional rights.

Angel also protected and defended the constitution during his overseas combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2012-2013, as a Sergeant with the Army National Guard.

Angel would tell you that his biggest accomplishment is raising, as a single parent, his 16 year old daughter Leilani, a junior in high school.  Angel is a very special member of his large family, and a very special member of our CPCS investigator family.