Former Spartanburg Officer, Wife Charged With Crimes Against Child

SOUTH CAROLINA — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged a husband and wife with multiple crimes against children under the age of 16.

According to the arrest warrants, 47-year-old Caleb Rivera, a former police officer at Spartanburg Methodist College, and his wife 47-year-old Julia Rivera committed multiple crimes between the dates of July 25, 1995, and July 24, 1997.

Caleb is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His wife, Julia, is charged with committing or attempting a lewd act upon a child under 16, according to SLED.

According to arrest warrants, Julia exposed herself and her private parts in a lewd and lascivious manner to a minor. She enticed the child into the shower and rubbed soap on herself in a “lewd and lascivious manner” and instructed the minor to soap themselves in the same way, according to the arrest warrants. Julia also stared at the child with “the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of the child,” according to arrest warrants.

The husband, Caleb, is said to have used force to commit sexual battery on a minor by lifting the child, placing them on his bed and slipping his hand into the child’s shorts and underwear, according to the arrest warrant.

The Honea Path Police Department requested SLED’s assistance in this case.