New Charge For Man Accused Of Drugging Amesbury Girl Who Died

LAWRENCE, MA — The man accused of sexually assaulting and drugging a 13-year-old Amesbury girl before dropping her off at a hospital — where she died — was charged Tuesday with aggravated rape, authorities said. It was the latest charge that Carlos Rivera, 47, of Lawrence, faces in connection with the girl's death. He was previously charged with multiple counts of assault and drug distribution. Prosecutors accused Rivera of providing the girl with cocaine.

Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett announced the new rape charge against Rivera Tuesday. Blodgett wants Rivera held without bail because he said Rivera is a danger to the community. Rivera was also charged with inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl.

"I’m concerned about the public’s safety," Blodgett said in a statement.

Blodgett pointed to a "glaring loophole" in state law that could have allowed Rivera to post bail.

"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," Blodgett said in a statement. "The law does not allow us to petition the court to 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."

Current state law prohibits prosecutors from filing for a dangerousness hearing for aggravated rape of a child. Such hearings determine if an individual should be held without bail.

Rivera was arraigned last week on two counts of distribution of Class B (cocaine) to a minor, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. He remains held without bail and will have a probable cause hearing July 2.

An autopsy of the victim linked Rivera's DNA to her, prosecutors said. The victim was brought to Lawrence General Hospital May 20 and was pronounced dead shortly after.

The cause and manner of death has not yet been determined.