The Antelope Valley Times

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Man pleads to arranging to meet 12-year-old Palmdale girl for sex

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An 18-year-old Rhode Island man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges that he flew to Southern California to have sex with a 12-year-old Palmdale girl, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Joel Rivera entered his plea to one count each of meeting minor for lewd purposes, distributing or showing pornography to a minor and contact with minor for sexual purposes.

Rivera began contacting the Palmdale girl through an anonymous webcam chatting app in August, according to Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami said.

Rivera exchanged sexually explicit images with the child for nearly a month through various messaging apps, the prosecutor said.

When the girl’s mother became aware that Rivera planned to fly in from Rhode Island to have sex with the victim, the mother contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the prosecutor added.

Rivera was arrested at Burbank Bob Hope Airport on Sept. 3.

He will be sentenced April 15 in Department A16 of the Los Angeles County  Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau.

Previous related story: Rhode Island man charged with arranging to meet 12-year-old Palmdale girl for sex

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

22 comments for "Man pleads to arranging to meet 12-year-old Palmdale girl for sex"

  1. Do we know if the 12 lied about her age yet. I remember something in a RI paper that he was mislead for several wks/months by the girl. Anyone have more info?

  2. I’m traveling to Mexico on business. Can someone tell me what the age restrictions are down there?

    • According to a quick web search ‘Mexico age of consent’ it returned 12 to 18. Also the search notes that you will likely be prosecuted for any relationship under 18.

  3. I think someone (parents, teachers) forgot to tell all the pregnant middle school girls that what they are doing is illegal. If a young girl, who has been taking part in this illegal activity, has a baby by these illegal acts, who gets custody of the child? The child (mom), her parents?

  4. What, you can be ready for sex at 18 but smoking or alcohal only at 21…. Wait, old enough to join military at 18, uh…. Drive at 16…. But sex okay as long as it is with under 18 if your under 18? I love how this magic age thing is in our world…..

    • It is against the law to have sex with ANYONE under the age of 18. Even if the other person is under 18 themselves. That makes most high school kids sex criminals. Not kidding. Not me, of course, as I always spent Friday nights at home, studying for the SATs. :)

      While it is ALWAYS, under ANY circumstance, against the law for a person one minute under the age of 18 to have sex, or engage in any sort of sexual conduct,…

      A 17 year old may join the US Armed Forces, with parental permission. A 16 year old may get married, with parental permission (at which point sex is a requirement, the way I understand it). A 16 year old may hold legal employment and operate a motor vehicle. A person under 18 is always prosecuted for any criminal offense, and a 14 year old can easily be charged, prosecuted and sentenced as an adult, LWOP totally an option (until very recently). A person 12 years and up may acquire a CA Hunting License and a Bear Tag. A few months ago the CA Supreme Court found that a 10 year old was mature enough to waive his Miranda Rights when questioned by police, without his parent present.

      All that. But… sex at 18, alcoholic beverages at 21 and now (?) tobacco at 21. Funny how the same age person can be treated as an adult and as a child.

  5. The age of consent in California is 16, so a 12 year old cannot legally consent to sex even if s/he wanted to.

    Even if the person was 17 and the child 12, it would still be illegal.

    • In California a child under 18 cannot, ever, legally consent to sex even if s/he wanted to.

      Even if the person was 18 and the child 17, it would still be illegal. Even if either person was 17 it would still be illegal.

  7. This is definitely an example of the magic that happens when you turn 18. From a kid (birthday in August), to being called a pedophile in less than a month.

    • I know right? If he were a 17 year old and she 12 then this would all be acceptable. Man, people on this site seriously worry me.

      • No, in California anyone under 18 even two 17 year olds are not legally allowed to consent to sex.

  8. Okay these guys rarely reoffend and such and isn’t the girl to blame and such and if a 12 year old could be charged as an adult isn’t that proof that a 12 year old is an adult? Serious arguments this websites resident pedo community make.

    • “These guys” reoffend nowhere near the rate what the public is led to believe. If links are allowed, here is some recommended reading:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tamara-rice-lave/international-megans-law-_b_9513242.html

      http://casomb.org/docs/Tiering%20Background%20Paper%20FINAL%20FINAL%204-2-14.pdf (synopsis on page 2) and I copy / paste:

      “About 95% of solved sex crimes are committed by individuals never previously identified as sex offenders and so not registered.” and of those “Approximately 93% of sex offenses against children are committed by persons known to the victim, not by “strangers.”” leading to the conclusion that “Research studies have found no relationship between having a registry and a decrease in sex offenses.

      [California Sex Offender Management Board]

      If a 12/14 year old is a child, how can they be treated as an adult by the legal system? Not condoning this man’s conduct but also not condoning the State’s hypocrisy.

      And if making serious arguments based on knowing the law and research and facts makes me a pedo, a pedo be I.