Runaway from Washington Found in Tuolumne County, Suspect Arrested
Fabian Rivera booking photo
TUOLUMNE COUNTY — On February 14th, a private investigator based in Southern California contacted the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office concerning a case in which he’d been commissioned to locate a 17-year-old juvenile runaway from Washington. He said he’d traced the girl’s whereabouts to the Columbia area of Tuolumne County, and it wasn’t long before a local deputy found evidence that she’d been in the company of a 21-year-old man by the name of Fabian Rivera.
The next day, County Sheriff’s Detectives conducted surveillance in two different areas believed to be frequented by Rivera and the girl.
Rivera’s car was found in the parking lot at Columbia Junior College. As it so happened, he was attending class at the college with the girl in his company.
Campus security assisted police and located the girl in the library. She was taken to the investigations office and interviewed, during which time she disclosed that Rivera knew her age, had driven to Washington to pick her up, and that the two spent several days together. She also confided that the two were involved sexually.
Rivera was arrested in the parking lot. A search of the residence on Marble Quarry Road where he was staying turned up evidence confirming the girl’s statements. She has since been reunited with her parents.
Rivera is housed at Tuolumne County Jail on charges of contacting a minor with intent for sex, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with a minor, sending/selling child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
