Today, the Honorable Judge Kathy Montejano sentenced 17-year-old Charles Rivas, of Visalia, to eight years in state prison for a robbery done for the benefit of a local criminal street gang. Due to the violent nature of the crime, Rivas was charged as an adult. After a hung jury in his initial trial, the defendant pled on February 26, 2010 to the robbery and gang special allegation. During Rivas’ sentencing today, after suggesting to the court that he changed his life, the defendant then flashed a gang hand sign to his family and other spectators in Court while being led away to serve his state prison sentence. The defendant’s brother Albert Romero had been sentenced to prison for carjacking with a sawed off shotgun in Visalia several months earlier this year.

The robbery took place on January 15, 2009. While riding on a bus to school, defendant Rivas confronted the victims alleging that they belonged to a rival gang. Despite the victims’ statements that they were not gang members, the defendant challenged the victims to a fight after exiting the bus. The victims refused to fight and instead defendant Rivas pulled out a knife and robbed the victim of an MP3 player. The defendant made it clear that he was taking the victim’s property in payment for the victim being on his gang’s turf. The defendant then attempted to take the victim’s jacket at which point an unrelated patrolling Visalia Police Department unit passing by the location scared the defendant off. The victims immediately reported the crime to school officials.

During the investigation by the Visalia Police Department the defendant was identified as the perpetrator. Detectives recovered the victim’s stolen MP3 player in the defendant’s pocket. When initially confronted with the evidence, defendant Rivas denied that he was there or knew anything about the robbery. Later during that day, the defendant confessed to the robbery.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Paul Greco and investigated by Sergeant Amy Watkins of Visalia Police Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani D. Jenkins, (559) 733-6411.