Mariano Rivera, a celebrated former pitcher for the New York Yankees, and his wife Clara Rivera are facing serious allegations in a recent lawsuit. This legal action claims that they failed to protect a young girl from sexual abuse during a summer camp retreat that was organized by their church.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, details how the couple traveled from New York to Florida after the girl’s mother raised concerns about her child’s safety during a summer camp trip in 2018. According to the legal complaint, instead of taking necessary actions to ensure the child’s safety, the Riveras allegedly “isolated and intimidated” the young girl, compelling her to stay silent regarding her abuse, the suit claims.
Joseph A. Ruta, the attorney representing the Riveras, issued a defense stating that the allegations against them are entirely unfounded. He asserted that the Riveras were not aware of any accusations until 2022 when they received a letter from an attorney asking for a financial settlement. Ruta also highlighted the couple’s reputation for their charitable efforts, specifically mentioning their dedication to helping underprivileged children, and lamented that they were being wrongly accused.
While the lawsuit does not disclose the name of the young victim, it indicates that she was born in 2007, placing her age at 10 or 11 during the time of the alleged incidents. The complaint outlines how Clara Rivera persuaded a church member to allow her daughter to participate in a camp hosted at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, during the controversial summer of 2018.
The girl reportedly endured continuous sexual abuse by an older female camper while in an unsupervised dormitory. According to a police report drafted in 2022, the girl disclosed experiencing 15 instances of inappropriate touching over a two-week duration within her bunk and even in the shower area.
After some telephone conversations raised her mother’s alarm, Clara Rivera agreed to look into the child’s safety concerns. The lawsuit later states that during this trip, the Riveras received alarming information that warranted concern, yet they chose to disregard it to prevent a scandal related to child sexual abuse within the church programs. Specific details regarding what they were informed about remain unclear.
The girl returned to New York and continued her involvement with the church community. However, during a subsequent barbecue event hosted by the Riveras in Rye, New York, the same perpetrator allegedly abused her once again.
Horowitz, the attorney representing the girl, criticized the couple for failing to address the risks after they were informed of the abuse. He stated that after being made aware, they did not take appropriate steps to ensure her safety or seek justice against the abuser, thereby continuing to expose her to danger.
The lawsuit also claims that in 2021, the girl faced another incident of assault, this time involving a male youth leader associated with the Refuge of Hope church. The abuse was reportedly uncovered by the girl’s mother, who discovered a series of inappropriate electronic messages exchanged between her daughter and the youth leader.
Subsequently, both the girl and her mother filed police reports in New York and Florida regarding each of the abuse incidents. Horowitz mentioned that it appears no criminal charges have been authorized in any of these cases. It is noteworthy that the lawsuit targets the Refuge of Hope church and not the Riveras personally.
No immediate responses were forthcoming from prosecutors in New York and Florida regarding whether they are currently investigating the allegations. Moreover, a representative for Ignite Life Center did not respond to inquiries on the matter. The church has previously settled lawsuits filed by three individuals who claimed they were abused as teenagers by a volunteer at Ignite Life Center. Additionally, two other persons linked to the church have faced charges for lewd and lascivious acts against minors.
