Press Releases
07/26/2024
Former Vernon Couple Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault Charges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Vernon, CT) – Matthew C. Gedansky, Tolland Judicial District State’s Attorney, and Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney, announced that Carlos Rivera and Taina Rivera, both age 43, previously of Vernon, each entered guilty pleas today in Rockville Superior Court on two counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-71, and one count of Sexual Assault in the Third Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-72a.
The Riveras’ pleas follow their arrest in April 2022 following a lengthy investigation by detectives with the Vernon Police Department and Hartford Police Department. In April 2022, Vernon police received a complaint from a juvenile victim of the sexual abuse perpetrated by Carlos and Taina Rivera. As a result of that complaint, police in multiple jurisdictions launched investigations that resulted in the arrest of the Riveras in connection with the sexual assaults of three individuals, two of which were minors at the time.
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for September 27, 2024, in Rockville Superior Court.
The case is being jointly prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Jaclyn Preville and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Cox.