LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Lawrence man charged in the death of an Amesbury teen is now facing additional charges of aggravated rape of a child.
Carlos Rivera was initially supposed to be in Lawrence District Court Tuesday for a dangerousness hearing, but was instead arraigned on the new charges, which stem from evidence obtained during the investigation into the girl's death.
The Essex District Attorney's office said the 13-year-old girl and another 16-year-old girl were at Rivera’s Bellevue Street apartment the night of May 25 through most of May 27.
Prosecutors say he gave the girls drugs and assaulted them.
He dropped off the 13-year-old girl at Lawrence General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
“I am reluctant to use the horrifying facts of this case to illustrate the necessity for immediate action to address the glaring loophole in the dangerousness statute, but I’m concerned about the public’s safety,” Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. “The law does not allow us to petition to court the hold a man accused of raping a 13-year old innocent girl, but does allow us to file because he allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl inappropriately. That is simply astonishing, and must be addressed by the legislature immediately.”
Rivera remains held without bail and is due back in court in July 2.
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