Kern County Man Convicted of Murder, Robbery, Conspiracy, and Other Charges
Above: Adolfo Rivera
(Courtesy of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office)
A Kern County man has been found guilty on a slew of charges in connection with multiple criminal cases.
According to a press release by Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, 31-year-old Adolfo Rivera was convicted in a “consolidated case” involving crimes committed as far back as 2018. The consolidated case reportedly encompassed offenses committed on three separate occasions between 2018 and 2019.
On August 4, a Kern County jury convicted Rivera of first-degree murder, conspiracy, robbery, attempted murder, assault with a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and other firearm-related charges including possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. Rivera was also found guilty of resisting arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Hunter E. Starr.
These charges were often accompanied by special allegations relating to firearm use and possession.
The jury also determined that Rivera had committed two previous strikes and found seven aggravating factors to be true. However, the jury remained divided on gang charges and enhancements linked to offenses in January of 2018.
On January 14, 2018, Rivera and associates reportedly plotted to rob an illegal casino, resulting in Rivera being the only remaining fugitive. On April 26, 2019, Rivera reportedly walked into a family’s backyard and fatally shot Enrique Meza-Guadron, as well as wounding another victim in an ensuing altercation, for unknown reasons. An unidentified coconspirator of Rivera’s then allegedly shot the second victim twice more. The second victim survived their injuries.
The final incident occurred on May 28, 2019, when Rivera was apprehended by the Bakersfield Police after attempting to flee. Rivera was reportedly in possession of a semiautomatic handgun, and forensic analysis tied the firearm to the murder.
Rivera’s sentencing has been scheduled for September 7, 2023. He faces over 400 years to life in prison. The sentencing will be presided over by the Honorable Charles Brehmer in Department 4 of the Kern County Superior Court.
