A plea hearing today was put off at which hospital Board Member
Ernest Rivas, accused of a molesting charge alleging he kissed a
16-year-old girl in July, had been expected to accept a settlement
on a lesser allegation.
A plea hearing today was put off at which hospital Board Member Ernest Rivas, accused of a molesting charge alleging he kissed a 16-year-old girl in July, had been expected to accept a settlement on a lesser allegation.
Rivas’ side requested the delay, with the hearing moved to Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. His attorney Elvira Zaragoza Robinson requested the move because she is in a jury trial this week on another case. She said she expects a plea deal to be reached officially at that hearing.
Rivas, 58, had been set for a jury trial after pleading not guilty to the misdemeanor allegation of molesting a child. His attorney and prosecutors were preparing to settle on a lesser charge – which remains on the table – at a Dec. 29 hearing when Rivas fainted in the courtroom. That hearing had been rescheduled for this afternoon.
Elected to his first term on the health care district board in November 2008, he is suspected of kissing the girl on or about July 16 and was arrested by the Hollister Police Department in August, according to records. Rivas was released after paying his $5,000 bail and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
If convicted of molestation, Rivas would face a possible sentence of a year in county jail and a fine of up to $5,000, according to the penal code. He also would have to register as a sex offender.
Rivas, whose address is listed as the first block of Monterey Street, declined to comment when reached on his cell phone Friday.
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