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Oct 6, 2008 10:00 pm US/Eastern
Springfield Firefighter Charged With Rape Of Teen
SPRINGFIELD (AP) ―
A Springfield firefighter pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he handcuffed a 14-year-old boy who was visiting his home and repeatedly raped him, then attacked the relative of the boy with a knife when he was confronted about the assault.
Eddie Rivera, 33, was ordered held on a $250,000 cash bail on nine charges, including three counts of rape of a child with force; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and two counts of furnishing liquor to a minor.
Police Capt. Robert T. McFarlin said officers were investigating additional charges against Rivera after another underage boy came forward saying the firefighter had sexually assaulted him last month.
Rivera was arrested Sunday, after he called police to his home, where angry relatives of the boy he's accused of attacking were banging on the house and breaking windows.
When officers arrived, the parents said their teenage son had been raped inside the home during an overnight sleepover, McFarlin said.
Authorities negotiated with Rivera, who they said was armed with a knife, and arrested him.
Rivera's court-appointed attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger says Rivera, an 11-year veteran of the fire department, is now considered absent without leave and will receive no pay while he remains in police custody.
He says the commissioner will review the case with city officials before deciding on any disciplinary action, Leger said.
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