Man Impersonating Attorney Flees RivCo Courtroom Before Arrest: Police

RIVERSIDE, CA — A man claiming to be an Orange County trial attorney was arrested Thursday in Upland after fleeing authorities in Riverside Superior Court last week, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Officials are actively seeking additional victims who paid for attorney services.

Erick Porras Rivera, 66, of Upland, was arrested Thursday afternoon by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. He was being held on $100,000 bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Rivera will appear at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Monday to face multiple felony charges, including grand theft, false impersonation, and theft by false pretenses, as well as the misdemeanor charge of practicing law without a license, according to the sheriff's department.

It is unclear if he will represent himself when he returns to court.

On April 16, deputies were alerted that Rivera was actively impersonating an attorney during court proceedings inside a Riverside Superior Courthouse courtroom, said Sgt. Jonathan Bodnar, Riverside County Sheriff's Department court services reporting supervisor

"He fled the courthouse before being contacted by deputies," said Bodnar. "Investigators learned Rivera had fraudulently represented himself as a licensed attorney, practicing law in Orange County, and had collected retainer fees from a client."

Deputies positively ID'd Rivera as an Upland resident, and served a search warrant at an apartment in the 200 block of West 9th Street. Rivera was arrested during the search warrant service, and deputies located multiple items of evidence related to the crime, added Bodnar.

"The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office believes there may be additional victims," Bodnar said.

Anyone with further information regarding the investigation is urged to contact Bodnar at (951) 776–1099 or the Sheriff’s Court Service Division at (951) 955–2420.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or 911 if the matter is an emergency. Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline, (909) 987–5005.