Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
Richard Rivera, 35, of the 100 block of Garth Road, Oreland, is free on bail and currently on leave, without pay, with benefits.
A sergeant at SCI Phoenix will be arraigned in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court this week on three misdemeanor charges of indecent assault on a fellow corrections officer that allegedly occurred at their workplace in March.
Richard Rivera, 35, of the 100 block of Garth Road, Oreland, is currently on leave, without pay, with benefits, and free on $5,000 unsecured bail, following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He was hired as a Corrections Officer Trainee on Sept. 11, 2017 at SCI Graterford. Authorities said he was moved to SCI Phoenix on Aug. 1, 2018, and has seven years of state service.
According to an affidavit filed Sept. 5 by a criminal investigator with the state Department of Corrections Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence, on March 11, 2024, the victim reported that Rivera – her supervisor – leaned over to look at the computers, and when he reached across his body with his right hand and grabbed her.
After the victim confronted Rivera, he said he was “just playing around,” per the affidavit. On the same day, authorities allege, Rivera said, “I have fresh protein for your coffee,” when the victim asked him if there was coffee creamer.
On March 12, while working her post, the victim asked Rivera to relieve her so she could use the bathroom. Per the affidavit, when she was leaving, Rivera grabbed her again. The victim, police said, told Rivera not to do that.
When she returned, the victim told police Rivera was sitting in her chair and said, “Come sit on daddy’s lap,” according to the complaint.
Again, the victim confronted Rivera about his actions.
Later in the day, Rivera allegedly rubbed himself on the victim while he looked out of the control windows. When she confronted Rivera, he replied, “It’s not like I was trying to.”
During video surveillance footage reviews, at 2:55 p.m. March 11, Rivera is seen stopped at the top of the control stairs, as the victim entered the frame, investigators said. The victim moved around him in the video, and as she passed him, Rivera’s hand opened and he reached backwards toward her, police said.
On March 12, at 6:57 p.m., an officer left the control area, leaving the victim alone with Rivera. Police said the video showed Rivera exhibiting the same behavior as in the stairwell.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
