• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Accused murderer of Mollie Tibbetts appears in court

Accused murderer of Mollie Tibbetts appears in court

August 22, 2018 By Radio Iowa Contributor

Cristhian Bahena Rivera.

A judge has set a $5 million, cash-only bond for 24-year-old Cristhian Rivera, who’s accused of killing the 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts while she was out jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn on July 18th, and then hiding her body in a cornfield.

Cristhian Rivera was initially being held on a $1 million bond, but Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown argued it should be $5 million.

“We think it is appropriate given the severity of the charge, his immigration status — at least as it’s been described to me,” Brown said. “…What he’s accused of, obviously, is a very heinous crime and certainly the safely of the community should be foremost in the court’s mind whenever setting bond.”

If Rivera comes up with $5 million in cash, the judge ruled he can be released but must turn-over his passport and be restricted to staying in Poweshiek County.

Investigators announced Tuesday that Rivera had lived illegally in Poweshiek County for up to seven years. Rivera’s attorney disputes that assessment in a court document, indicating his client has some sort of legal status to live in Iowa.

Allan Richards, Rivera’s attorney, also asked that cameras be barred from the courtroom for the upcoming trial, arguing images of Rivera will be used to fuel the debate about immigrants. Richards said images of his client in a courtroom will be used by politicians debating the nation’s immigration system.

“In this particular case, the coverage that’s out there is really all one way,” Richards said, “and, in fact, the government has weighed in at the highest levels of a predisposition that this young man, Cristhian, is guilty.”

Federal officials say they have no record of Rivera applying for so-called DACA protection, nor do they find any documents indicating what Rivera’s “immigration status” may be

The family that owns the dairy farm where Rivera worked announced this afternoon Rivera used a photo ID and Social Security number that were not his own to apply for the job four years ago.  A family spokesman told reporters he could not reveal the name Rivera used, because that information is part of the ongoing investigation.

Rivera’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 31st.

(Reporting by Joe Lancello, KBOE, Oskaloosa; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson and Dar Danielson)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

‘Brain-eating amoeba’ discovered in Taylor County lake

Cedar Rapids therapist’s relationship with student leads to years in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Hutchinson calls Iowa State a perfect fit

Northern Iowa’s Farley touts new practice facility

First minor league game gets things started tonight at Field of Dreams site

Knoxville set to host sprint car racing’s biggest event

Iowa State basketball builds on its identity

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC