Man in sex-abuse case facing 3 new counts

PROVO — A man accused of documenting the sexual abuse of a child with his cell phone camera faces more federal charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office last month charged Jacabo Javier Rivera with four counts of production of child pornography. Rivera was indicted in July by a federal grand jury of one count of production of child pornography.

The latest charges were filed Nov. 23. On Nov. 30, Rivera entered a not-guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

A 10-day jury trial will begin Jan. 30, said Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City.

Rivera still faces seven first-degree felony charges — including sodomy on a child, rape of a child and aggravated sex abuse of a child — in 4th District Court in Provo.

Although the two cases stem from the same alleged incidents, the charges are different, and the cases won't influence each other, said attorney Aaron Dodd, acting as Rivera's attorney.

Rivera's ex-girlfriend allegedly found the pictures on the phone then took it to police. According to police, she later learned the little girls in the pictures were her daughter and her niece.

Fourth District Judge Lynn Davis will issue a ruling within 10 days as to the admissibility of the girls' statements.