BY RICH SCHAPIRO DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER  Thursday, March 20th 2008, 1:24 AM  Darlene Rodriguez, anchorwoman of WNBC-TV's 'Today in New York,' was in tears outside the courtroom before her husband's arraignment on rape charges.  New Rochelle Police Sgt. David Rodriguez, who is accused of rape, was defended by his tearful wife, WNBC anchor Darlene Rodriguez.  Teary TV newscaster Darlene Rodriguez found herself on the other side of the cameras Wednesday, emotionally defending her New Rochelle cop husband against a rape charge.  "I just want to say I know a lot of you and a lot of you know me," Rodriguez, appearing sullen and shaken, told reporters outside the New Rochelle city courthouse.  Standing beside her accused hubby, WNBC's "Today in New York" anchor then steadied herself.  "I'm here to support my husband," she said. "I believe in him. I love him. And he's innocent 100%."  The brunette newswoman had entered the courthouse in tears.  Authorities say Rodriguez's husband, New Rochelle Sgt. David Rodriguez, raped a 17-year-old girl inside her home last month, a day after he helped arrest her live-in boyfriend.  The incident began on Feb. 8, when cops were called to the teenager's house because of a report of a fight. Rodriguez was off-duty at the time.  The officers arrested the girl's 35-year-old boyfriend on an assault charge, New Rochelle police said.  He was released on bail and the police were called again that same night.  This time, Rodriguez was one of four officers who arrested the abusive beau for violating an order of protection, police said.  Two days later, the girl claimed an off-duty Rodriguez returned to her home the next morning and attacked her.  "He engaged the victim and forcibly raped her," New Rochelle Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll said.  Rodriguez, a nine-year veteran of the force, pleaded not guilty to first-degree rape. He agreed to an order of protection for the girl before posting $25,000 bail.  His lawyer, Stephen Worth, said the allegations were false - and suggested they were brought because of his wife's celebrity.  "It's unfortunate that sometimes people who are related to public figures become targets of false allegations," Worth said.
A police sergeant who is married to a New York City anchorwoman was charged Wednesday with the forcible rape of a 17-year-old girl.