Morris Prosecutor: NY State Corrections Officer Charged with Sex Assault in Mt. Olive

Published on October 03, 2019

Allege 16-Year Old Victim Was Lured Online

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher announce that Michael Rivera, 26, of Glen Spey, N.Y., a corrections officer with the New York State Department of Corrections, has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged luring incident involving a 16-year-old girl in Mt. Olive.

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Rivera has been charged with two counts of Sexual Assault, one count of Luring, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and one count of Promoting Prostitution.

This defendant is alleged to have contacted a 16-year-old female via the internet and offered her money in exchange for sexual acts on or about July 4, 2018. It is further alleged that the defendant met with the victim on July 6, 2018, in Mt. Olive, provided money and engaged in sexual acts with the victim.

When the victim indicated that she did not want to continue, Rivera forcibly penetrated the victim. Thereafter, he took the money back and left the residence. The defendant's identity was not initially known to the victim, but was ascertained through extensive investigation by members the Mt. Olive Police Department and Morris County Prosecutor's Office €“ Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit.

The defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call Detective Hunter Guiles of the Mt. Olive Township Police Department at 973-691-0850.

Inquiries should be directed to pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us.