New Bedford Man Convicted of Rape, Kidnapping

Abner Rivera, a 37-year-old man from New Bedford, was convicted of aggravated rape and kidnapping after he assaulted a 22-year-old woman who was highly intoxicated. The incident occurred on January 15, 2023, when the victim was dropped off at a street corner and has no memory of the events that followed. Surveillance footage showed Rivera carrying the unconscious woman into a garage, where he raped her. After the assault, he left the scene and reported to a nearby fire station that he found a drunken female. DNA evidence from a condom found in the garage confirmed his involvement. Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, with the District Attorney expressing hope that the verdict provides the victim some sense of closure.