Mark Rivera, 50, had held lay positions in the Anglican Church for years, much of it at the Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, where he served for nearly 2 decades. In December 2022, Rivera was convicted on 5 felony counts related to child sexual abuse. Two were class X felonies of predatory sexual assault of a victim under 13 years old, and three were class 2 felonies of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13. On March 6, 2023, Judge John Barsanti sentenced Rivera to a total of 15 years for these 5 counts..
This week, Rivera agreed to a sentence of six additioinal years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to a separate criminal sexual assault, Class 1 felony.
According to prosecutors, on the night of February 16, 2018, the victim and others were at Rivera’s home on Granart Road in unincorporated Big Rock Township. The victim and Rivera had known one another for several years.
The victim became intoxicated and Rivera eventually walked her home. He returned to his home and discovered that the victim had left her mobile phone at his home. Rivera went back with her phone and sexually assaulted the victim. The defendant took advantage of the victim who was unable to consent to the act at the time because she was intoxicated.
According to Illinois law, Rivera must serve 85 percent of the sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Rivera must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
“Mr. Rivera is a sexual predator who seeks out the vulnerable,” Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Rodgers stated. “He belongs in prison.”
