Man convicted on Aggravated Rape and Kidnapping in Fall River Superior Court

A New Bedford man has been convicted after a jury trial in the Fall River Superior Court on charges of Aggravated Rape and Kidnapping.

37-year-old Abner Rivera will be sentenced by the Honorable Rene Dupuis on March 14th. 

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, on January 15, 2023, the victim, who was 22 years old, spent the evening out with friends.  Later in the evening, while in a highly inebriated state, the victim was dropped off at the corner of Acushnet Avenue and Deane Street in New Bedford. The victim has no memory of being dropped at the corner or what happened thereafter.  Video surveillance in the area captured the defendant, who is a stranger to the victim.  The video then depicts the defendant carrying the victim, who appears to be limp, over his shoulder with the victim’s head bobbing consistent with someone who is unconscious.  The video further shows the defendant carry the victim into a nearby garage where he gathers cardboard. The defendant then places the victim on the ground where he then rapes her.  The video subsequently shows the victim fall onto her face when she attempts to stand and the defendant dragging her back into the garage where she remained motionless.  The defendant then exited the garage and went to a nearby fire station where he reported locating a drunken female.  The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment with no memory of what had happened in the garage.  A condom was located in a dumpster in the garage where the victim was found.  Testing on the condom revealed the DNA of both the defendant and victim. 

The jury, after hearing all of the evidence, convicted Rivera.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Patrick Driscoll and Catherine Sauter.

“I am pleased that the jury held the defendant accountable for taking advantage of the victim who was incapacitated. I hope this provides the victim some sense of closure.,” District Attorney Quinn said.