A 42-year-old Lawrence man convicted of having sex with his children’s 13-year-old baby-sitter in 2004 is asking Gov. Mark Parkinson to shorten his sentence.
The Kansas Parole Board is taking public comments about William R. Rivera as part of a review of his clemency application.
But Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson has filed an objection to Rivera’s request, saying appellate courts have already upheld his convictions.
“He was rightfully convicted by a jury of these crimes, and there’s no reason for clemency to be applied in this case,” Branson said.
A jury in October 2004 found Rivera guilty of having sex with the girl three times in a relationship that lasted about a month beginning in May 2004. In addition to the three statutory rape convictions, jurors found him guilty of aggravated criminal sodomy and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Sex with a child under 14 is classified as rape under Kansas law.
Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin in January 2005 sentenced Rivera to serve 21 years in prison.
According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Rivera is an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility. His earlier possible release date — when factoring in possible credit for good behavior — is October 2022.
During his 2004 sentencing hearing, a family friend testified Rivera was a good father and grandfather who cared for and supported his family, according to news reports.
Anyone wishing to comment in the next two weeks on Rivera’s clemency request can mail it to the correctional facility’s clemency administrator, P.O. Box 2, Lansing, KS 66043.
The parole board also has an online comment section on its website, www.doc.ks.gov/kpb/clemency.
Comments
beatrice 3 years, 7 months ago
Take a year off his sentence for every inch he agrees to have cut off.
Or, just tell him no.
gbulldog 3 years, 7 months ago
If this person had violated you daughter, your sister, or your grandaughter what would you do. Tell him not to do it again and let him go?? Rape is used as a weapon of control. On Good Morning America the show profiled a 10Yr old girl that has disapeared. Why would you take a 10yr old girl? There are many more plus numerous boy that are missing.
In some places, a girl that is raped is murderded by her family because it has brought shame upon her family. Mr Rivera should have known betterr. Because he let his desires take control, he has not only damaged this girl and her family, but also damage his children and grandchildren. Society is full of victiums of sex abuse,
I do not want Mr Rivera to have access to my daughers are grandaughters. So if you feel he should not be punished, then you need to become responsible for him and the damage he has caused and make sure he is no longer capable to doing any further damage. If not, your child may be next.
compmd 3 years, 7 months ago
You people scare me. There are three different people here calling for extrajudicial murder because they don't like what they read in the newspaper. Another person who wants to commit torture, another who wants to extend his sentence, and yet another who wants to imprison his defense attorney, who has committed no crime.
The fact that you are in the jury pool disgusts me and is an affront to our system of criminal justice that relies on reason and thoughtfulness in jurors.
I'm not taking a side here; I'm not defending Rivera. I'm pointing out what psychos some people are on this board. big "angel of death" dave here with his .40 and notyourmom collecting torches and pitchforks will mete out justice their own way! puddleglum, you might want to watch your back, bigdave might be gunning for you.
CHKNLTL 3 years, 7 months ago
Nobody that's a real criminal in prison likes a Chester. The discrimination he must be experiencing inside will never make up for what he did. Keep rotting in jail, Mr. Rivera!
somebodynew 3 years, 7 months ago
Not my only question, but if he is a father AND grandfather at age 35, just how "old" was his wife and child when babies were born ???? There has to be a whole lot more to this story than we know.
edjayhawk 3 years, 7 months ago
I can't believe he even has the nerve to ask for it.
puddleglum 3 years, 7 months ago
I'm very pretty, so I get women of all ages fawning for my attention constantly.... but any girl under 21 needs to have an ID, and this is a good practice for all men over the age of 23. Years ago, I was dating this girl-for a while. Never asked her age, just having fun. One day she asked me to come meet her Mom for her birthday party. I figured she was around 23...oops. Turned out she was too young to even buy cigarettes... what to do? I met her in a bar, so assumed she was at least 21. Guess you never know.
but a grandpa and a 13 year old?
rgh 3 years, 7 months ago
Not only should this pervert not be allowed a shorter sentence, they should send his defense attorney back with him to serve out the remaining years for such a bonehead attempt to get a sex offender put back on the streets early.
Ron Holzwarth 3 years, 7 months ago
"Rivera was a good father and grandfather who cared for and supported his family"
Isn't one of the marriage vows "forsaking all others"?
Paula Kissinger 3 years, 7 months ago
The only way he is NOT going to get any sympathy with his sob story and that of his family will be for someone directly involved in this case to speak at his hearing or write a letter to the governor and the parole board...period. Anyone who fits this criteria needs to hurry up and start writing or be at the hearing. Other comments from the general usually have no impact on the board's decision and they "go by the book" which is pretty lenient as all of the penal facilities are packed and they need more room to bring in the new criminals.
So...victim, family members who do NOT support him, law enforcement officers and prosecutors who were involved in this case get to work and keep him incarcerated for another 12 years. And then go to that parole hearing and keep him locked up for his full sentence.
Steve Jacob 3 years, 7 months ago
The victim is 19-20 now, let them have a voice one way or another.
Russell Fryberger 3 years, 7 months ago
This dirtbag was in his 30's when he had sex with a 13 year old child and his family says he was a good father and grandfather. What the hell kind of family are we talking about. He knew better than to mess with a child.
Flap Doodle 3 years, 7 months ago
How's about, he can get out, but his 'nads have to stay behind in the cell.
Jane 3 years, 7 months ago
Yea, the 'good father and grandfather' description had me wondering WTF kind of 'good' father/grandfather has sex with a child?
MasterShake 3 years, 7 months ago
Looking at the link provided in the article, he's been naughty in prison as well. 11 infractions since 2004. No way he should serve a day less than the full sentence.
You can comment here
http://www.doc.ks.gov/kpb/public-comment-sessions-1/comment_form
grammaddy 3 years, 7 months ago
A good father and grandfather does NOT have sex with a 13 year old.
Gabe Hoffman 3 years, 7 months ago
He was a grandfather @ 35?
bigdave 3 years, 7 months ago
I can shorten his sentence with a .40SW to the back of the head!
LJ Whirled 3 years, 7 months ago
Any way to DOUBLE the sentence?
Practicality 3 years, 7 months ago
I will save the governor and clemency adminitrator some time.
NO!
See in 2022 Mr. Rivera.
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