The criminal case against former Eastlake High School head football coach Ruben Rodriguez has quietly been closed. Court records show prosecutors dismissed the assault charge Thursday after Rodriguez completed a pre‑trial diversion program connected to an alleged choking incident in September 2025. According to the filings, the dismissal came only after he met all of the program’s requirements.
What the court documents allege
The arrest paperwork lays out a violent confrontation at a Horizon City home in September. The victim told police that Rodriguez grabbed and pulled her by the hair, then straddled her with his legs near her neck and chest. She alleged he punched her in the face, pushed her eyes with his thumbs, and choked her with both his hands and his legs.
The woman told officers she bit Rodriguez’s thigh in an effort to get him off her, then ran to her son’s room to call 911, according to reporting from KVIA ABC‑7.
Coach's account and school response
Rodriguez’s version of events, as documented in the court files, is very different. He told authorities he “was asleep and did not know what happened or how his girlfriend had injuries.”
The fallout off the field was quick. The Socorro Independent School District moved on from Rodriguez after the arrest, and Eastlake later hired JB Frontz as head football coach in January. That change in leadership followed Rodriguez’s arrest, according to documents cited by KVIA ABC‑7.
Earlier reporting and timeline
Rodriguez was originally arrested in late September 2025 on a charge of assault of a family or household member by impeding breath or circulation. Booking records showed he was held on a $40,000 bond before being released.
At the time, the district said it was “aware of the arrest” and declined to discuss specifics, stating it would not comment on personnel matters, as noted in earlier coverage by KTSM.
Legal note
In Texas, completing a pre‑trial diversion program often leads prosecutors to dismiss charges, although that does not automatically wipe out an arrest record. Legal guides explain that people typically have to seek an expunction or a nondisclosure order if they want an arrest removed from most background checks and public databases. Eligibility, waiting periods, and the effect on public access depend on the exact statute and the way the case ended, according to resources from BHW Law Firm.
