Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 43-year-old Hiram R. Rivera of Dunkirk was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens on an indictment charging him with one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony).

It is alleged that on the afternoon of June 8, 2021, the defendant and another individual were allegedly 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 allegedly abducted the victim by forcing her at gunpoint out of her apartment and into her vehicle. The defendant, while sitting in the rear seat, allegedly placed the victim in the front passenger seat as the other individual drove the victim’s vehicle.

It is further alleged that 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 alleged dragged the female victim out of the vehicle while armed with a hammer and what appeared to be a pistol. The defendant is accused of holding 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 allegedly recovered a pellet gun after the defendant was taken into custody.

Rivera is scheduled to return on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to remain held without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Rivera faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.      

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 is being 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.  

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.