Former NY Yankee, Pastor Mariano Rivera, Sued for Intimidating Child in Gainesville

Incident 1:

Jane Doe and her family were introduced to AG-affiliated church Ignite Life Center (ILC), located in Gainesville Florida, while attending services at Mariano and Clara Rivera’s church Refuge of Hope in New Rochelle, NY.

When Jane Doe arrived at the Ignite Life Center summer internship in Gainesville, she was housed with a much older minor girl who has been identified as MG. MG reportedly sexually abused Doe throughout the Summer Internship.

The lawsuit states, “Ms. Rivera and her husband, Refuge of Hope employee/volunteer/agent Mariano Rivera, then traveled from New York to Florida to see Jane Doe at the Ignite Life Summer Internship. During that trip, the Riveras, in their capacity as agents for defendants, learned or should have learned information that Jane Doe was being sexually abused by MG. Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship.”

Incident 2:

The lawsuit reports that Doe also endured sexual abuse from the adult son of Refuge of Hope Associate Pastor Ruben Tavarez, Ruben Tavarez Jr.

Tavarez Jr. reportedly groomed Doe and publicly displayed inappropriate affection with her. This continued until Tavarez Jr. sexually exploited her and continued his sex abuse by engaging in graphic electronic communications with Doe.

Doe’s mother found out about Tavarez Jr. exchanging inappropriate pictures with her daughter, and Tavarez Jr. “admitted to his sexual misconduct with Jane Doe,” states the lawsuit.

More details in full article