"Rivera now knows he faces 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine if found guilty of re-entering the United States after committing a felony"

Accused serial rapist also faces federal charges 4:51 PM

04:51 PM EDT on Thursday, August 23, 2007

By MARIO ROLDAN / WCNC
E-mail Mario: MRoldan@WCNC.com

Mecklenburg Sheriff's Office

Jose Rivera

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The suspected Dilworth serial rapist gets his first face-to-face with a judge in Charlotte. However, Thursday’s court appearance has nothing to do with the rape spree Charlotte-Mecklenburg police believe Jose Rivera committed.

Earlier this year, immigration officers almost deported Rivera a second time to Honduras, but CMPD asked for a hold on deportation proceedings because detectives connected Rivera forensically with rape cases.

On the federal side, Rivera now knows he faces 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine if found guilty of re-entering the United States after committing a felony.

In 2006, the feds deported Rivera because of charges associated with possession of a stolen car.

Now, CMPD accuses him of three rapes in the Dilworth area that happened between April 2004 and September 2005. One of the victims was jogging down East Boulevard.

We know CMPD detectives got a chance to interrogate Rivera for the first time Wednesday.

Thursday’s federal court appearance was just to inform Rivera the illegal re-entering charge he faces on the federal side. His federal plea hearing is next Tuesday.

A CMPD spokesperson told WCNC they are hopeful the feds will cooperate so that they too can take Rivera to court.

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