Fall River youth basketball coach pleads guilty to molesting 15-year-old player

A Fall River youth basketball coach pleaded guilty and was sentenced for molesting one of his 15-year-old players, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

The mother of the 15-year-old reported to police in May that 37-year-old Brandon Rivera, an old family friend and her daughter's travel basketball coach, had been at their home and took her daughter's cell phone.

The victim told police Rivera took her phone because he was upset that she was talking with a boy her own age that he thought was bad for her.

The victim said Rivera then forcefully took her phone and grabbed her breast, causing bruising.

During an investigation, the victim said Rivera had engaged in sexual encounters with her three or four times at his home between October 2017 and May 2018.

Rivera also had sex with her, and solicited naked photos of the 15-year-old.

A nude photo of the teen was found on Rivera's phone by police, and police also found school emails where Rivera discussed with the victim how she could minimize and deny the events.

Rivera's phone had text messages with the victim that confirmed their relationship, along with the nature of the relationship and the bruising from the incident in May 2018.

“This defendant took advantage of his position as a coach and family friend to sexually molest the victim.” Quinn said. “The sentence holds the defendant accountable for this significant breach of trust but the victim will have to carry this with her for the rest of her life.”

Rivera was indicted and charged with aggravated rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, assault and battery and possession of child pornography.

Judge Mark Hallal imposed an agreed-upon state prison sentence of five to seven years for a statutory rape, and eight years of probation to follow for charges of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, assault and battery and possession of child pornography.

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Rivera's probation conditions prevent him from having any unsupervised contact with children, and he must register with the Sex Offender Registry Board, attend sex offender treatment as ordered by the court and wear a GPS tracking device.

Rivera can't loiter or live within 300 feet of any school, K-12, daycare, playground, public pool, arcade, theme park, skating rink, toy store or any other location where children under 18 could get together.

He also must get prior approval if he has a legitimate reason to go to any of those locations, and he also can't coach children in any manner.

Cox Media Group