GUILTY TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez

[Niner]

Just to keep this update!

Friday, January 29th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) – TX – Jayden Alexander Lopez aka “Little Jacob” (4 yrs) (died Oct. 17-18, 2017, found Oct. 20, 2017, ID’d April 5, 2018, Galveston) – for *Rebecca Suzanne Rivera (34/now 37) “mom” arrested (6/19/18) & charged (6/20/18) & indicted (8/7/18) with 1st degree felony offense of “injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily harm”, 2nd degree felony tampering with evidence & fabricating evidence. $500K Cash or Surety Bond.
If convicted, Rivera faces a range of punishment on the child injury charge of five to 99 years or life in prison, and a range of punishment of two to 20 years in prison for the charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Trial began on 1/27/21 with jury selection.
Court info from 6/22/18 thru 1/15/20 reference post #97 here:
TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez
1/27/21 Wednesday, Day 1: Jury selection begins. Continues to 1/28/21.
1/28/21 Thursday Day 2: Jury selection continues. Trial continues to Friday, 1/29/21.
*Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez (31/now 33) “mom’s GF” – Pretrial conference hearing on 2/5/21. Trial set to begin on 2/17/21.

 

[ChazMcGavin]

Thank you - yes, everything went smoothly - and I'm still ALIVE!!



Welcome - I do see you joined in 2017 - but I see this is your first post! Any updates? Maybe how many men/women on jury if picked yet? Any articles for this?

TIA!

Yea I'm just a lurker. I was in the jury pool for the case and after being dismissed I looked into it and found this thread.

They selected 14 total jurors (2 alternates) out of a pool of 72. I'm not sure of the actual split but it was fairly even but leaned towards women. Mostly all people with kids and slightly older. This was my first summons (I'm 36) so it was an interesting experience and can only imagine how different it was because of covid.

 

[Niner]

@ChazMcGavin - thank you for that update! Darn that you didn't get picked! Are you going to follow the trial with us?

 

[ChazMcGavin]

@ChazMcGavin - thank you for that update! Darn that you didn't get picked! Are you going to follow the trial with us?

Most definitely gonna follow along. I recall when this happened after I looked it up. I live about in between Houston and Galveston.

I really wanted to be picked but the judge told us at the beginning that if you weren't in the first couple of rows of jurors you were unlikely to even get questioned directly. They had all 72 of us in about 6-7 rows and the first two rows was about 28 people and I was 48, near the end of the 4th row.

The process was frustrating honestly with so many people showing clear biases, but I guess that's what comes with living in SE Texas. That being said I'm not sure about the chosen jurors responses so they may have all been impartial and hopefully were, or if they had actually spoke at all during the process.

If all went according to plan the trial should have started Wed afternoon around 2pm and they were expecting it to go between a week or two.

 

[Niner]

snipped by me....
If all went according to plan the trial should have started Wed afternoon around 2pm and they were expecting it to go between a week or two.

Oh! Trial has started! Thanks for that info! Nothing in any local articles? I'm searching and only getting late 2019 articles - cause I'm over in Europe & they don't allow a lot of articles over here. So anything you can find out about the trial goings on in articles - it would be very much appreciated. I'm the "official" keeper of trial updates!

 

[ChazMcGavin]

Nothing in the local news at all.

Here's a link to the public court records. Not sure if that will help or not.

http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=1414259

Tyler Odyssey Portal

 

[Niner]

on that link - the last line:

01/27/2021 Application for Community Supervision

Says - never been involved in a crime before - so she should get probation.... Hey lady - there is a dead little boy found on the beach!!! And you're his "mom"!!! grrr....

edited to add - here's what the application reads:
Quote: Now comes, Rebecca Rivera, defendant, and represents to the Court that she is the defendant in said cause & she has never before been convicted of a felony in this State or any other State, & she prays that in the event of her conviction in this case, the imposition of a sentence be suspended & that she be placed on probation as provided by law.

It actually has "he"/"him" - I changed to she/her.

 

[Niner]

It seems Galveston has 2 different court site - here's the other one re Rivera:

Rivera:

01/22/2021 Court Coordinator's Case Notes
Comment: ORDER (1) DENYING DEFT'S MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE; AND (2) REFLECTING FOUR GALVESTON COUNTY JAIL INCIDENTS NOT TIMELY AND MAY NOT BE USED AS EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES SIGNED KLN/law.

01/22/2021 Order on Motion to Continue
Order on Motion to Continue
Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry
Comment: - Denied

01/25/2021 Motion for Continuance
Motion for Continuance - RIVERA 2.pdf
Comment: queued to court amp Motion for Continuance

01/25/2021 Proposed Order (unsigned)
Continuance Order - Rivera.pdf
Comment: Continuance Order queued to court amp

01/26/2021 Re-Indictment
Re-Indictment

01/27/2021 Jury Trial
Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry
Hearing Time: 9:00 AM
Comment: PREF. SET. **1/27/2021 BRING DEFT STREET DRESSED FOR TRIAL.**

01/27/2021 Precept Issued - Work Product
Precept Issued - Work Product


Link: Tyler Odyssey Portal

 

[Niner]

Monday, February 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – TX – Jayden Alexander Lopez aka “Little Jacob” (4 yrs) (died Oct. 17-18, 2017, found Oct. 20, 2017, ID’d April 5, 2018, Galveston) – for *Rebecca Suzanne Rivera (34/now 37) “mom” arrested (6/19/18) & charged (6/20/18) & indicted (8/7/18) with 1st degree felony offense of “injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily harm”, 2nd degree felony tampering with evidence & fabricating evidence. $500K Cash or Surety Bond.
If convicted, Rivera faces a range of punishment on the child injury charge of five to 99 years or life in prison, and a range of punishment of two to 20 years in prison for the charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Trial began on 1/27/21 with jury selection & trial started 1/27/21. 12 jurors with 2 alternates.
Court info from 6/22/18 thru 1/15/20 reference post #97 here:
TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez
1/27/21 Wednesday, Day 1: Jury selection begins. Jury has been chosen – 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Trial began with opening statements.
1/28/21 Thursday Day 2: Trial continues - No other info available. Trial continues to Friday, 1/29/21.
1/29/21 Friday Day 3: No info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/1/21.
1/27/21 Update: Application for probation filed. Quote for application: “Now comes, Rebecca Rivera, defendant, and represents to the Court that she is the defendant in said cause & she has never before been convicted of a felony in this State or any other State, & she prays that in the event of her conviction in this case, the imposition of a sentence be suspended & that she be placed on probation as provided by law.”
*Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez (31/now 33) “mom’s GF” – Pretrial conference hearing on 2/5/21. Trial set to begin on 2/17/21.

 

[Niner]

Well - there has been no changes in the court site - so I'll continue to post this...

Tuesday, Feb. 2nd:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9am CT) – TX – Jayden Alexander Lopez aka “Little Jacob” (4 yrs) (died Oct. 17-18, 2017, found Oct. 20, 2017, ID’d April 5, 2018, Galveston) – for *Rebecca Suzanne Rivera (34/now 37) “mom” arrested (6/19/18) & charged (6/20/18) & indicted (8/7/18) with 1st degree felony offense of “injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily harm”, 2nd degree felony tampering with evidence & fabricating evidence. $500K Cash or Surety Bond.
If convicted, Rivera faces a range of punishment on the child injury charge of five to 99 years or life in prison, and a range of punishment of two to 20 years in prison for the charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Trial began on 1/27/21 with jury selection & trial started 1/27/21. 12 jurors with 2 alternates.
Court info from 6/22/18 thru 1/15/20 reference post #97 here:
TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez
1/27/21 Wednesday, Day 1: Jury selection begins. Jury has been chosen – 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Trial began with opening statements.
1/28/21 Thursday Day 2: Trial continues - No other info available. Trial continues to Friday, 1/29/21.
1/29/21 Friday Day 3: No info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/1/21.
1/27/21 Update: Application for probation filed. Quote for application: “Now comes, Rebecca Rivera, defendant, and represents to the Court that she is the defendant in said cause & she has never before been convicted of a felony in this State or any other State, & she prays that in the event of her conviction in this case, the imposition of a sentence be suspended & that she be placed on probation as provided by law.”
2/1/21 Monday Day 4: No info available yet. Trial continues on Tuesday, 2/2/21.
*Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez (31/now 33) “mom’s GF” – Pretrial conference hearing on 2/5/21. Trial set to begin on 2/17/21.

 

[Niner]

Court site has still not been updated on whether there is a trial or not....

So I will stop posting the "Trial" until someone here can find anything current.

TIA if you do!

 

[ChazMcGavin]

Court site has still not been updated on whether there is a trial or not....

So I will stop posting the "Trial" until someone here can find anything current.

TIA if you do!

I've been scouring local news for any updates and have found nothing. Unfortunately it seems like nothing may be updated until there's a verdict and that's assuming the trial did proceed like scheduled.

 

[Niner]

Dania: I see a Plea hearing was added...

02/05/2021 Pre-Trial Conference (8:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
01/29/2021 Reset by Court to 02/05/2021

02/11/2021 Plea (8:31 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
TDCJ PLEA TO BE HELD AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE 10TH JDC VIA LIFESIZE.

02/17/2021 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
02/08/2021 Reset by Court to 02/17/2021

link: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=1430700




Rebecca - looks like they are serving a re-indictment according to this on 1/29/21.

Tyler Odyssey Portal

 

[ChazMcGavin]

Dania: I see a Plea hearing was added...

02/05/2021 Pre-Trial Conference (8:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
01/29/2021 Reset by Court to 02/05/2021

02/11/2021 Plea (8:31 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
TDCJ PLEA TO BE HELD AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE 10TH JDC VIA LIFESIZE.

02/17/2021 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
02/08/2021 Reset by Court to 02/17/2021

link: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=1430700




Rebecca - looks like they are serving a re-indictment according to this on 1/29/21.

Tyler Odyssey Portal

No clue how you do the voodoo you do!

I searched those sites before replying and saw nothing. Still don't! But I may have searched so much its just cached now.

 

[H.smith88]

Monday, February 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – TX – Jayden Alexander Lopez aka “Little Jacob” (4 yrs) (died Oct. 17-18, 2017, found Oct. 20, 2017, ID’d April 5, 2018, Galveston) – for *Rebecca Suzanne Rivera (34/now 37) “mom” arrested (6/19/18) & charged (6/20/18) & indicted (8/7/18) with 1st degree felony offense of “injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily harm”, 2nd degree felony tampering with evidence & fabricating evidence. $500K Cash or Surety Bond.
If convicted, Rivera faces a range of punishment on the child injury charge of five to 99 years or life in prison, and a range of punishment of two to 20 years in prison for the charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Trial began on 1/27/21 with jury selection & trial started 1/27/21. 12 jurors with 2 alternates.
Court info from 6/22/18 thru 1/15/20 reference post #97 here:
TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez
1/27/21 Wednesday, Day 1: Jury selection begins. Jury has been chosen – 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Trial began with opening statements.
1/28/21 Thursday Day 2: Trial continues - No other info available. Trial continues to Friday, 1/29/21.
1/29/21 Friday Day 3: No info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/1/21.
1/27/21 Update: Application for probation filed. Quote for application: “Now comes, Rebecca Rivera, defendant, and represents to the Court that she is the defendant in said cause & she has never before been convicted of a felony in this State or any other State, & she prays that in the event of her conviction in this case, the imposition of a sentence be suspended & that she be placed on probation as provided by law.”
*Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez (31/now 33) “mom’s GF” – Pretrial conference hearing on 2/5/21. Trial set to begin on 2/17/21.

Rivera convicted today. Guilty. Life in prison.

 

[H.smith88]

Just to keep this update!

Friday, January 29th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) – TX – Jayden Alexander Lopez aka “Little Jacob” (4 yrs) (died Oct. 17-18, 2017, found Oct. 20, 2017, ID’d April 5, 2018, Galveston) – for *Rebecca Suzanne Rivera (34/now 37) “mom” arrested (6/19/18) & charged (6/20/18) & indicted (8/7/18) with 1st degree felony offense of “injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily harm”, 2nd degree felony tampering with evidence & fabricating evidence. $500K Cash or Surety Bond.
If convicted, Rivera faces a range of punishment on the child injury charge of five to 99 years or life in prison, and a range of punishment of two to 20 years in prison for the charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Trial began on 1/27/21 with jury selection.
Court info from 6/22/18 thru 1/15/20 reference post #97 here:
TX - Galveston, Hispmale 'Little Jacob' UP17178, 3-5, Oct 2017 *arrest* #2 - Jayden Alexander Lopez
1/27/21 Wednesday, Day 1: Jury selection begins. Continues to 1/28/21.
1/28/21 Thursday Day 2: Jury selection continues. Trial continues to Friday, 1/29/21.
*Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez (31/now 33) “mom’s GF” – Pretrial conference hearing on 2/5/21. Trial set to begin on 2/17/21.

Nothing in the local news at all.

Here's a link to the public court records. Not sure if that will help or not.

http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=1414259

Tyler Odyssey Portal

Rivera convicted today.
Guilty.
Life in prison.
We (jury) saw the autopsy photos and no one can imagine the torture, suffering and starvation this boy went through. Hardly a square inch on the boy not scarred. Imagine WWII Nazi death camp and the physical torture of Jesus Christ.

 

[Anoni Muss]

I was there. I hated how the gf obtained a plea bargain. She was involved. She was a terrible liar. All she kept saying not my problem not and I was too drunk to remember. She should’ve been held to the charge guilty by omission.

 

[Niner]

Okay - you new members!! I need a MSM link to this! Anyone have a link to this GOOD news??!!

So - the gf got a plea deal? Is that also in the article??

TIA!

 

[Niner]

from the court site:

Dania:

02/05/2021 CANCELED Pre-Trial Conference (8:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
Case Disposed
01/29/2021 Reset by Court to 02/05/2021

02/11/2021 Plea (8:31 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
TDCJ PLEA TO BE HELD AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE 10TH JDC VIA LIFESIZE.

02/17/2021 CANCELED Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
Case Disposed
02/08/2021 Reset by Court to 02/17/2021

link: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/Search.aspx?ID=300&NodeID=100,110,120,130,140,200,210,220,230,240,250,260,270,280,290,299,310,320,330,340&NodeDesc=Galveston+County


Rivera - injury to child

01/27/2021 Arraignment -Felony
01/27/2021 Order on Motion in Limine (Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry )
01/27/2021 Order on Motion in Limine (Judicial Officer: Ellisor, John )
01/27/2021 Jury Strike List
01/27/2021 Jury Strike List
01/27/2021 Jury List - Final - OCA
01/27/2021 Jury Bio Form

02/04/2021 Charge of the Court
02/04/2021 Verdict
02/04/2021 Jury Communication to Court
02/04/2021 Charge of the Court on Punishment
02/04/2021 Verdict
02/04/2021 Jury Communication to Court
02/04/2021 Judgment (Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry )
Life TDCJ
02/04/2021 Trial Court's Certification and Defendant's Right to Appeal (Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry )
02/04/2021 Order Waiving Court Costs and Fees
02/04/2021 Appeal - Notice
02/04/2021 Order on Motion to Withdraw Counsel (Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry ) Gregg Russell
02/04/2021 Order on Motion to Withdraw Counsel (Judicial Officer: Neves, Kerry ) Chris Henderson

03/05/2021 Check Status (6:00 PM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry) OF APPEAL.

link: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/Search.aspx?ID=300


Rivera - Tampering w/evidence

01/26/2021 Re-Indictment
01/27/2021 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry)
PREF. SET. **1/27/2021 BRING DEFT STREET DRESSED FOR TRIAL.**
10/07/2019 Reset by Court to 12/02/2019
12/02/2019 Reset by Court to 03/16/2020
03/16/2020 Reset by Court to 07/06/2020
07/06/2020 Reset by Court to 08/24/2020
08/24/2020 Reset by Court to 09/21/2020
09/21/2020 Reset by Court to 10/19/2020
10/19/2020 Reset by Court to 12/01/2020
12/01/2020 Reset by Court to 01/11/2021
01/11/2021 Reset by Court to 01/27/2021
Result: Other
01/27/2021 Precept Issued - Work Product
01/29/2021 Precept and Return

02/12/2021 Check Status (6:00 PM) (Judicial Officer Neves, Kerry) OF CASE.

link: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/Search.aspx?ID=300

 

[Niner]

Okay - you all can now skate... found an article - finally!

Mother of Little Jacob sentenced to life in prison | khou.com

Feb. 5, 2021

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — The mother of a 4-year-old boy who was found dead on a Galveston beach more than three years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.

Rebecca Suzanna Rivera was convicted of injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily injury after a seven-day trial that ended Thursday.
[.....]
Rivera admitted that she would hit the boy with anything she could find when she got frustrated with her girlfriend. Gomez is also charged with injury to a child and testified against Rivera as part of her plea deal.

Rivera will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.