BUFFALO – A Dunkirk man accused of kidnapping a woman in June was arraigned in the case Friday.
The Erie County District Attorney says that 43-year-old Hiram Rivera arraigned for second-degree kidnapping a class “B” felony.
It is alleged that on the afternoon of June 8, Rivera and another individual were at the female victim’s home in the Village of Silver Creek.
The Rivera, prosecutors say, was sought by law enforcement in connection with a crime that occurred earlier that morning in Chautauqua County.
When the victim told him that police were searching for him, Rivera allegedly abducted the victim by forcing her at gunpoint out of her apartment and into her vehicle.
While sitting in the rear seat, Rivera allegedly placed the victim in the front passenger seat as the other individual drove the victim’s vehicle.
It is further alleged that at around 3:20 p.m., a New York State trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued at a high-rate of speed for nearly 10 miles before crashing into the rear end of another vehicle on Route 438 near Versailles Plank Road in the Town of Collins.
After the collision, Rivera allegedly dragged the woman out of her vehicle while armed with a hammer and what appeared to be a pistol.
Rivera was accused of holding the victim against her will in a nearby wooded area while armed with the weapons. After nearly three hours of hostage negotiations, he surrendered and the victim was unharmed.
Investigators allegedly recovered a pellet gun after the defendant was taken into custody.
Rivera is scheduled to return on December 8 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to remain held without bail.
If convicted of all charges, Rivera faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
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