A 20-year-old Santa Clarita warehouse worker is expected to receive a three-year sentence in state prison after pleading no contest Thursday to one count of sexual assault.
De’Angelo Lee Rivera pleaded no contest to rape by the use of drugs and waived his right to be sentenced that day, according to the minute order of the hearing before Judge Pamela Usher of the San Fernando Superior Court.
The terms also include mandatory lifetime registry as a sex offender. As a result of his plea, there were five other counts against Rivera to be dismissed, all related to a sexual assault that was reported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station via a 911 call.
The station received a call around 11 p.m. June 5 from a witness who reported a man was having sex with a semiconscious woman in the parking lot of Skyline Ranch Park, according to the initial report to the station.
Robert Jensen, former spokesman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, said deputies responded and found the couple the informant identified. The alleged victim appeared to be intoxicated and having difficulty communicating with officials, Jensen said.
Rivera was arrested at 11:30 p.m., according to station records.
Fred Fielding, public information officer for the L.A. County Fire Department, confirmed that personnel were called to the lot near Stratus Lane at 11:12 p.m. and arrived six minutes later. One patient was taken to the hospital, he said, adding no additional information was available.
Sheriff’s officials indicated the suspect and the victim were suspected to be in a dating relationship.
The case was investigated by the Special Victims Bureau of the Sheriff’s Department.
Rivera remains free on a $100,000 bond pending his formal sentencing hearing next month.
