​Covina Sex Assault Suspect Finally Faces Charges in February Attack

PHOTOS/Courtesy of the Covina Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

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POMONA - The Glendale pastor who went on the run and professed his innocence in a sex assault on a pre-teen girl appeared in court Wednesday.
 
Douglas Rivera, 40, was charged with three counts of lewd acts upon a child, first-degree burglary and indecent exposure, including a special enhancement that burglary was committed to commit the lewd act, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
 
Rivera was taken back into custody and his bail was set at $1.16 million.
 
Rivera, the pastor of God’s Gypsy Christian Church in Glendale, is accused of forcing his way into a room where two Chinese preteen girls were staying at the Vanllee Hotel and Suites, 1211 E. Gavey Ave. February 7.

The girls were here as part of a school trip from China.

Rivera allegedly drove up to the girls’ room around 10:08 p.m., peered through the open drapes from his truck and masturbated, according to Covina Police. Rivera then exited his truck, stood outside the room and pretended to talk on his cellphone for 30 minutes.

Rivera allegedly forced his way in when the girls opened the door thinking he was their chaperone, Covina Police said.

Surveillance pictures of Rivera and his dark-colored Dodge Ram 4500 truck were shared publicly, helping Covina detectives to quickly identify the Baldwin Park resident after a plethora of tips  were phoned in to Covina Police.

Covina detectives served a search warrant at Rivera’s home and located the truck parked there two days after the assault occurred.

The Dodge Ram 4500 was coated with a truck bed liner spray in an attempt to alter its appearance, Covina Police said.

Rivera spent four days on the lam and recorded a video professing his innocence before finally turning himself in.