Pastor serving 15 years for sexually assaulting goddaughter gets additional 6 years

KANE COUNTY, Ill. (TCD) -- A 50-year-old former pastor already serving 15 years for sexually assaulting a child recently pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another victim.

In December 2022, a jury found Mark Rivera guilty of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office said Rivera abused a girl younger than 13 on "multiple occasions" between June 2018 and May 2019. Rivera was a lay pastor at the Anglican Church of North America in Big Rock, Illinois, when the abuse occurred.

WBBM-TV reports the victim was Rivera's goddaughter, who was 9 years old at the time

In March, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office announced Rivera was sentenced to 15 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He must register as a sex offender for life.

Then, in a separate case, the State's Attorney's Office said Friday, April 14, that Rivera pleaded guilty to criminal sexual assault and was given an additional six years in prison.

According to the statement, on Feb. 16, 2018, the victim, who knew Rivera for several years, went to his Granart Road home for a gathering. The victim was reportedly intoxicated, and Rivera walked her home. When he went back home, Rivera noticed the victim left her phone at his residence, so he went back with the phone and sexually assaulted the victim, the State's Attorney's Office said.

Rivera reportedly "took advantage of the victim who was unable to consent to the act at the time because she was intoxicated."

Rivera will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

In a statement, Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Rodgers said, "Mr. Rivera is a sexual predator who seeks out the vulnerable. He belongs in prison. I wish to express my gratitude to his victims for speaking up and preventing him from preying on anyone else. Thanks to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office staff for their work in this investigation."

MORE:

• Former Big Rock Lay Pastor Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault, Gets Additional 6 Years in Prison - Kane County State's Attorney's Office
• Former Big Rock Lay Pastor Gets 15 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Assault, 3/7/2023 - Kane County State's Attorney's Office
• Former Big Rock Lay Pastor Found Guilty of Child Sexual Assault, 12/23/2022 - Kane County State's Attorney's Office
• Former Kane County lay pastor gets 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting goddaughter, 3/7/2023 - WBBM