Country Guitarist Chris Rodriguez Convicted on Assault Charge

photo via Metro Nashville Police Department

Country musician and current member of the supergroup Generation Radio, Chris Rodriguez, has plead “no contest” to a misdemeanor charge of Assault with Bodily Injury stemming from a 2021 domestic dispute incident with his wife. Rodriguez was initially arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault – Strangulation, which is a felony.

For pleading no contest to the lesser charge, Rodriguez will serve an 11 month, 29 day suspended sentence, and be on probation for the duration. He was also ordered to pay $774.00 in court costs according to Davidson County Criminal Court Records. The incident occurred on June 13th, 2021 in Nashville. Rodriguez was arrested for the offense on June 17th, 2021, and was convicted on the offense on July 28th, 2022.

Chris Rodriguez is currently a member of the supergroup Generation Radio with Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus, along with Deen Castronovo of Journey, and Jason Scheff of Chicago. The band was initially called The Rise Above, but changed their name to Generation Radio after signing to Frontiers Music in May.

A native of The Bronx, Chris Rodriguez moved to Nashville and became an in-demand session guitarist throughout the 90’s, appearing on recordings from Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Lee Ann Womack, and others. He participated in Shania Twain’s “The Woman in Me” TV tour band from 1995 to 1996, toured with Keith Urban from 2005 to 2010, and has also toured with Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, and LeAnn Rimes.

According to the original affidavit obtained by Saving Country Music, police were dispatched to the home of the then 61-year-old Rodriguez and his wife Charlotte Medley after she called about a domestic disturbance. Medley told police the two had arrived home separately after having gone out for the night, and that she could tell Mr. Rodriguez was angry about something. Charlotte Medley tried to barricade herself in a bedroom for her protection, but before she could get a chair in front of the door, Mr. Rodriguez forced himself inside the room, and allegedly started hitting her with a closed fist.

When Ms. Medley fell back on the bed, she alleges Mr. Rodriguez put both hands around her neck and started choking her. She says she never lost consciousness, but was not able to breath for a period. Ms. Medley then reportedly fell on the floor, and Mr. Rodriguez continued to strike her with a closed fist until she tried to push him off and strike him back and he left the room. Ms. Medley then barricaded the door, and called the police. Officers observed bruises on the left side of Charlotte Medley’s face, and swelling and an abrasion on her right arm.

After the incident, a protection order was signed, which Chris Rodriguez allegedly violated in a separate incident, resulting in a Criminal Contempt charge.

Also active in the Christian music market, Rodriguez released a solo album on Word Records called Beggar’s Paradise in 1999. In October of 2020, it was announced Chris Rodriguez would be part of the supergroup The Rise Above, which ultimately became Generation Radio. The group just released their debut self-titled album on August 12th.

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