Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Hiram R. Rivera of Dunkirk pleaded guilty this morning before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens to one count of Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony).

On the afternoon of June 8, 2021, the defendant and another individual were at the female victim’s home in the Village of Silver Creek. The defendant was being sought by law enforcement in connection with a crime that occurred earlier that morning in Chautauqua County. When the victim told the defendant that police were searching for him, the defendant attempted to abduct the victim by forcing her at gunpoint out of her apartment and into her vehicle. The defendant, while sitting in the rear seat, placed the victim in the front passenger seat as the other individual drove the victim’s vehicle.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., a New York State trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued at a high-rate of speed for nearly 10 miles before crashing into the rear end of another vehicle on Route 438 near Versailles Plank Road in the Town of Collins.

After the collision, the defendant dragged the female victim out of the vehicle while armed with a hammer and what appeared to be a pistol. The defendant attempted to hold the victim against her will in a nearby wooded area while armed with the weapons. After nearly three hours of hostage negotiations, the defendant surrendered and the victim was unharmed. Investigators recovered a pellet gun after the defendant was taken into custody.

Rivera faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second violent felony offender on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.

The defendant, who also has pending criminal charges in Chautauqua County related to the incident, continues to remain held without bail.

DA Flynn commends the New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff’s Office and the Seneca Nation of Indians Marshal’s Office for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David M. Zak of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.