Between June 2018 and May 2019, Mark Rivera was a lay pastor at the Anglican Church of North America in Big Rock, Illinois. He was also a child predator.
Yesterday, Rivera, who now lives in Winfield, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections after having been previously convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child – Class X felony (two counts) and aggravated criminal sexual abuse – Class 2 felony (three counts).
According to prosecutors, on multiple occasions between June 2018 and May 2019, Rivera, then in his late 40s, sexually assaulted a victim that he knew, and who was younger than 13 years old. He was convicted by a jury in December 2022.
“My thanks to this victim, who had the courage to speak up and tell her mother about Mr. Rivera’s abusive conduct and to face him in court,” stated Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Rodgers after sentencing. “I’m grateful for her family’s patience and endurance during this long and difficult court process. My thanks to ASA Wilkinson, to Child Advocacy Center investigator Beth Mullarkey and to CAC advocate Julie Pohlman for their work in bringing justice to this victim and her family.”
In addition to the prison term, Rivera must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
The sentence is 12 years for the predatory criminal sexual assault of a child offenses, and three years for the aggravated criminal sexual abuse, to be served consecutively.
According to Illinois law, Rivera must serve 85 percent of the 12-year sentence and is eligible for day-for- day credit on the three-year sentence. He receives credit for 1,134 days served in the Kane County jail and on electronic home monitoring.
