WHITE PLAINS – A Florida man has been charged by the US Attorney for attempting to sexually assault a 13-year-old Hyde Park girl. The attempted sexual assault occurred on April 3, 2022, in a hotel in the town.
(The original account of the incident can be found here.)
Thomas Rivera, 32, of Lauderhill, Florida is charged with one count of enticement of a minor which carries a sentence of 10-years-to-life in prison.
On April 3, 2022, at approximately 4:50 p.m., the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a report from the Town of Hyde Park Police Department concerning a 13-year-old girl being raped by a subject named “Thomas” at the Holiday Inn on South Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Town police officers were dispatched to Holiday Inn and determined that a “Thomas Rivera” was staying in a particular room and they went to that room. Rivera opened the door and was detained. The 13-year-old girl was found in the bathroom and told police that Rivera tried to rape her.
On April 3, 2022, Rivera was interviewed by Town of Poughkeepsie detectives at which time he admitted that he met the girl online playing games in February of this year and that they began speaking daily via voice calls and text, discussed sex, and that he traveled to New York to see the victim.
Rivera was charged in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court with endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse and was released on bail.
Rivera is currently being detained by federal authorities.
“Through the use of video game chats, Thomas Rivera is alleged to have found and lured a 13-year-old girl into meeting him in person for the purpose of exploiting her for sex,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “The conduct alleged against Rivera is assuredly terrifying to any parent, and a reminder that a seemingly innocuous video game can be utilized as a weapon by online predators; we urge anyone caring for children to be mindful of their children’s online activities.”
