ST. THOMAS, V.I. – A man who was charged with aggravated rape and
related offenses of a minor boy was released on an unsecured bond.
Juan
Rivera, 37, of Altona appeared before V.I. Superior Court Magistrate Henry Carr
III Friday morning to be advised of his rights on one count each of
first-degree aggravated rape, unlawful sexual conduct and child abuse following
his arrest on Thursday.
Magistrate
Carr found probable cause to sustain the charges and released Rivera on $75,000
unsecured bond into the third-party custody of his mother. Magistrate Carr also ordered Rivera to abide
by a number of court-imposed bail conditions, which include surrendering his
passport.
According
to a probable cause fact sheet filed by Officer Tianna Hunt in support of the
arrest, the child’s mother told police that she noticed swelling and redness to
her son’s anus. She then asked him what
happened and he said Rivera put his finger in his anus. The child told his mother that although he
cried, Rivera did not stop.
The mother took
the child to a doctor who, after examining the area, confirmed that there
appeared to be irritation and redness that could possibly be from a finger
being inserted repeatedly, according to Hunt.
Rivera is
scheduled to return to court on May 18 for his arraignment hearing at which he
will formally answer to the charges.
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