Mariano Rivera Accused of Covering Up Sexual Abuse of 10-Year-Old Girl: Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed last week accuses Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of pressuring a young girl to remain silent about her abuse. According to the lawsuit, the Riveras isolated and intimidated the girl into staying quiet to prevent issues for their church, Refuge of Hope.
The lawsuit was filed by the girl, now 17, and her mother, who are not named to protect their privacy. The suit is seeking unspecified damages for negligent supervision and premises liability.
The Allegations
The lawsuit alleges that Clara Rivera, who is a pastor at Refuge of Hope, told the mother that the girl should attend a summer internship through Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, another Assemblies of God church. Refuge of Hope paid for the girl’s attendance and required her to stay in a dormitory with other children without parental supervision.
According to the complaint, an older female camper, identified only as “MG,” repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl, who was about 11 at the time, in the dorm and shower.
The girl told her mother about the abuse, and the mother then reported her concerns to Clara Rivera, who told the mother that she would investigate. However, the situation was not rectified, and the Riveras allegedly told the mother that the girl was safe.
The Cover-Up
The lawsuit alleges that the Riveras failed to take appropriate action and handled the allegations internally to avoid scrutiny, public scandal, and potential financial losses.
The Riveras are also accused of failing to supervise the girl properly during a barbecue at their home after she returned from the internship. The couple allegedly did not invite parents to the event, only the church’s children, and the girl was left unsupervised with “MG,” even after the disclosure of the abuse.
Other Allegations
A Refuge of Hope youth leader, Ruben Tavarez Jr., who is the son of an associate pastor, is also accused of abusing the girl in 2021. The abuse included “graphic electronic communications of a sexual nature.” It ended when the girl’s mother confronted Tavarez.
Last month, affiliates of the Assemblies of God settled three lawsuits that alleged similar abuse of minors. A former staff member of Ignite Life Center entered into a plea agreement in connection with sexual abuse.
The Riveras’ Response
Joseph A. Ruta, the Riveras’ attorney, released a statement saying that the couple “do not tolerate child abuse of any kind” and that the allegations are “completely false.”
Ruta said that the first time the Riveras heard about the allegations was in 2022, when a New York attorney sent a letter requesting a financial settlement. He said that the lawsuit is full of inaccurate and misleading statements.
The lawsuit is ongoing, and the Riveras have not yet filed a formal response to the allegations.