Overview
- The plea reduced an original second-degree murder charge and halted a five-day jury trial that was set to begin Monday.
- Rivera now faces up to 10 years in prison, with no agreed sentence and a March 23, 2026 hearing scheduled before a judge.
- Prosecutors told the court that a single punch knocked Jacob Baldwin to the pavement, causing a head injury that proved fatal days later.
- Baldwin’s parents said they were notified about the deal roughly two weeks earlier and objected to the downgrade and the way it was communicated.
- Rivera’s attorneys said he is remorseful, did not intend to kill Baldwin, and chose to accept responsibility by pleading guilty.