Friday, April 27, 2012

Defendant Guilty of Rape in Takoma Park Sentenced to 20 Years - News Release

NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
* 7500 Maple Avenue * Takoma Park, Md 20912


For more information contact:
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901


April 27, 2012 (2:30 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


On March 1, 2010, Chief Ronald A. Ricucci of the Takoma Park Police Department announced that an arrest warrant had been obtained and served on Luis Rivera, of no fixed address, for the sexual assault of a female jogger on Sligo Creek Parkway in Takoma Park on November 19, 2009. Rivera was at that time being held at the Prince George’s County Detention Center for a sexual assault that occurred just a few days earlier on November 13, 2009, also on Sligo Creek Parkway in Prince George’s County, approximately 2.4 miles from the assault in Takoma Park.

In May 2011, in the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, Rivera was found guilty of 1st degree rape, 2nd degree rape, 3rd degree sex offense, 2nd degree assault and false imprisonment. At his sentencing hearing on July 15, 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison.

On January 27, 2012, in the Takoma Park case at the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Rivera plead guilty to 1st degree rape. At his sentencing hearing today, April 27, 2012, in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Rivera was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to run consecutive to the sentence he received in the Prince George’s County case.

On November 19, 2009 between 5:00 and 5:15 p.m. a woman was sexually assaulted on the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Trail in Takoma Park, Maryland. Rivera grabbed the victim as she jogged the trail and forced her into a wooded area, off of the trail, where he sexually assaulted her. The assault occurred between Maple Avenue and the Carroll Avenue Bridge.

Evidence was recovered which led detectives to develop Rivera as a suspect. Confirmation of that evidence resulted in an arrest warrant for Rivera charging him with 1st Degree Rape, 1st Degree Assault, and various other charges.

Chief Ricucci is proud of the Takoma Park dispatchers, detectives in the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and Squad 2 patrol officers and K-9 Unit for their outstanding follow through and determination in this case. He also wants to thank the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, who jointly investigated this crime. The working relationship between multi-jurisdictional police departments continues to be an invaluable tool.

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