Teen Hindered Arrest of His Wife-To-Be, Police Say

A 19-year-old man who agreed to help Bethlehem police find a woman against whom he had just obtained a protection from abuse order is accused of hindering her apprehension, according to court papers.

Apparently, Bryant Rivera had a big change of heart within weeks of filing that PFA against Samantha Allen on Jan. 14.

On Feb. 1, Rivera and Allen, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant, got married, according to the court record.

During the 17 days in between, Rivera failed to contact the Bethlehem police, answer his telephone or make contact with his own probation officer, though he knew that Allen was being sought on the outstanding warrant, police said.

According to the affidavit:

• Police visited Rivera at 503 W. Fourth St. in reference to his PFA against Allen on Jan. 14. During that visit, he was informed of the outstanding warrant against Allen. He told police that they had a child together, which he had custody of, and that he would cooperate.
• On Jan. 17, Rivera told police that he learned that Allen was living with another man in Northampton and that he would obtain the address from a friend.
• On Jan. 25, police learned that Rivera had dismissed the PFA against Allen. Rivera did not answer his cell phone and his probation officer told police that he had not heard from him either.
• On Feb. 4, Bethlehem police found Allen’s Facebook page, which now had her listed as Sammi Rivera. She posted that she and Bryant Rivera were wed on Feb. 1. The page also had recently posted pictures of the couple and their baby.
• On Feb. 20, police learned that the couple was living together 126 Graham Place. But a follow-up revealed that they had moved out.
• On April 3, Rivera was arrested at his place of employment, Lehigh Valley Transportation in Bethlehem, on a probation violation. At this point, he was living at 432 Oak St. in Allentown.

On Thursday, police formally charged Rivera with two felony counts of hindering apprehension—one for harboring or concealing and another for providing false information—and obstructing the administration of law, a misdemeanor.

He was arraigned before District Judge Nancy Matos-Gonzalez and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.