Lower Bucks Man Awaits Extradition For Out-Of-State Rape

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA —A Lower Bucks County man charged with domestic-related strangulation and assault in the township is wanted for rape and molestation in Georgia, police said.

Elias Rivera, 18, of Hulmeville was awaiting his preliminary hearing for the June crime when Falls Township Police learned that he had an outstanding warrant in Georgia for another crime.

After his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Rivera was taken into custody by Cpl. Nicholas Pinto and was preliminarily arraigned by District Justice John Galloway who sent him to Bucks County Prison without bail to await extradition.

On May 31, Falls Township Police were dispatched to southbound Route 1, just south of Route 32, for the report of a domestic dispute that occurred in a vehicle.

Police found that the victim and Rivera had sustained injuries during the altercation, according to the criminal complaint obtained by Patch.

The dispute began as an argument inside the car while they were driving down the roadway, the affidavit said. The victim was the driver and Rivera was seated in the front seat passenger seat.

The argument became so heated that the victim had to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder of the highway, court records state.

After pulling over, the argument continued and Rivera allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck with his left hand and began to choke her, the affidavit states.

He then reached over with his right hand and started choking her with both hands.

To get him to stop choking her, she used her keys and began hitting him, ultimately striking him just below the left eye, causing a small cut, police said.

After he stopped choking her, the victim stated that she was going to call the police. The defendant then punched the rearview mirror out of anger causing it to break. The force of punching the window caused the windshield to crack and spider in that area as well, the affidavit said.

The victim had black and blue bruises on the left side of her neck and scratches on the right side of her neck. These injuries caused her pain and she was evaluated by paramedics on scene.