Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera, wife added as defendants in revised sexual abuse lawsuit, documents show
Mariano Rivera, who spent his entire storied MLB career with the New York Yankees, has been added as a defendant in a lawsuit. Rivera's wife, Clara Rivera, was also listed as a defendant in an amended sexual abuse suit filed by an unnamed girl and her mother.
USA Today Sports obtained a copy of the new complaint after it was filed in Westchester County Court April 25.
The original lawsuit, filed in January, alleged the young girl was victimized by an older individual during events linked to the church the Riveras co-founded.
The church is located in Westchester County, New York, and Clara was listed as a senior pastor.
The Riveras were not named defendants in the initial filing. Instead, the church, Refuge of Hope, and Brook View Rye, LLC were listed as defendants. The limited liability company lists the address of the Riveras' former home, which they sold in 2022.
In the previous filing, the Riveras were accused of taking inadequate measures to protect the girl listed as Jane Doe in the complaint. The complaint alleges an assault occurred in "approximately summer 2018" at a New York home the Riveras' owned at the time.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged abuse happened at a barbecue that children who attended the church were invited to. However, the attending children's parents did not receive invitations, according to the suit.
The amended suit's details were consistent with the initial filing. In both filings, the Riveras allegedly disregarded the girl's claims of sexual abuse and "isolated and intimidated" her in an effort to ensure she remained quiet about the alleged incident.
"Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of JANE A DOE, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated JANE A DOE to remain silent about her abuse to avoid causing trouble for REFUGIO and the Ignite Life Summer Internship," the lawsuit states.
"In order to avoid the potential scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and otherwise protect DEFENDANTS above all else, the Riveras, in their capacities as agents and/or employees of DEFENDANTS, assured MOTHER A DOE that JANE A DOE was safe and in no danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that JANE A DOE remained vulnerable to additional acts of sexual abuse."
Joseph A. Ruta, an attorney representing the Riveras, said the allegations against his clients are "completely false."
The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages.
Rivera, 55, is a five-time World Series champion and a 13-time MLB All-Star. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
MLB players on the impact of sports betting on fan interactions: ‘People suck, dude'
We see the players' performances. We see the gambling billboards. If we want to see the betting lines, we can easily find them, too. What we don't see is how gamblers interact with the players they bet on. In this year's edition of The Athletic's anonymous MLB player poll, our writers asked players about the experience — and to judge from the overwhelming responses we received from major leaguers, it's even uglier and scarier than you think. That, folks, is a landslide. But the most startling part was what the players said after 'yes,' 'no,' or 'unsure.' In recent weeks, we've seen pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Liam Hendriks reveal that they and their families had been targeted with death threats. Harmless taunting – 'Nice game, pretty boy' – is taking a darker turn, and the reason is obvious to players. Most of the time, players said, the worst stuff comes to them anonymously on social media. 'They wouldn't say that stuff to your face,' one pitcher said. But it's also become routine for fans to remind players of the betting lines for that day's game (Note: The Athletic has a business partnership with online sportsbook BetMGM.) Advertisement 'As a starting pitcher, you go to warm up, and all it is is people hanging over the fence: 'I've got you on the over!'' said one former National League All-Star. 'You try to tune them out – that's not my focus – but you hear that stuff and you're very aware of what your over-under is for the day in strikeouts.' The major league minimum salary is $760,000, theoretically rich enough for players to resist overtures from gamblers. But many players make only a pro-rated portion of that salary, based on the actual days they spend in the majors, and some players worry that a sinister element could infiltrate their ranks. 'My fear,' said one seven-year veteran, 'is that these young guys coming in, if (a gambler) can manipulate them, I don't want to ever see that happen.' One veteran relief pitcher said he had gotten threats his entire career, but they've become more specific because of gambling. He, too, fears the worst. 'I've received (something) as simple as a Venmo request with a threat on it that says, 'You owe me $9,000 because you blew the game – I need you to send me that money or I'm going to find your family,'' he said. 'That's too far. We've communicated as players to MLB security that we need to get a handle on this before it gets out of control. I don't want to say this, but something bad is going to happen and it's going to be like, 'We told you so.'' It was different, players said, when fans focused more on their fantasy teams. These days, they can tell there is a different level of intensity and that some fans want to take out their problems on the players who lost them money. 'It's the worst thing that's happened to the game since I've been up here,' one veteran outfielder said. 'I think it's only going to get worse because of how popular it is. There are ways to bet pitch-by-pitch in the stadium during the game. I'll be in Wrigley in center field and I have people telling me they're going to put money on me to hit a home run the next at-bat. I don't need to know that. Advertisement 'And then the hate stuff if you have a bad day (and) go 0-or-4 — it's gotten out of hand. It's a problem. And unfortunately, they're not going to change it because there's too much money in it.' Many players reported that fans have found their Venmo accounts and are demanding money. One American League pitcher noted that Venmo requests often arrive before games are even over. (Yes, he's changed his username.) 'It's hostile at weird times,' he said. 'It used to be, if you win or lose the game, fans are happy or sad. Now it's like, if you don't cover, they're sad. Or if you give up a run in the first inning, they're sad. Or if you throw a fastball instead of a curveball, they're sad.' Hitters have it even worse, he said, because home runs are such common bets but relatively rare occurrences. 'They're always betting on homers,' he said. 'These guys are trying to shoot the ball through the 4-hole and these (gamblers) have a homer bet and they're screaming at them.' Another pitcher we spoke to was less concerned and pointed to a positive aspect of the gambling craze. 'I have gotten some DMs over the years about whether bets have hit or not hit; that just comes with the territory,' he said. 'But I think it's cool, man. If you're into that, and you don't see it as a problem, and you do it responsibly, I don't think there's a problem with it. I think it gives fans deeper access. With social media, you can reach out to us immediately (and) when you get more access to the sports everybody loves, it can't be too much of a bad thing. You've got a dog in the fight. You're watching.' For most players, though, fans who gamble are watching too closely — and it makes them very uncomfortable. 'It's insane,' said one National League position player. 'Nowadays it's 'f— you, f— your family.' S—, it's a bad day, I'm sorry. It's not like I called you and said, 'Bet on me today.' You're making the fans expect us to go 4-for-4 every day.' Advertisement He continued: 'I get requests all the time on Venmo: 'Thank you for making me lose $2,000 last night …' I get threats: 'I'm going to shoot you from my apartment. I live right across (from) the stadium.' … I got three or four texts like that and I had to report it to MLB security. I don't know if it's for real, but I don't want to find out.' One AL reliever said he also fears violent retaliation, and that the Athletics' anticipated move to Las Vegas in 2028 could be problematic. 'I think there's going to be a security risk or personnel risk,' he said. 'Someone's going to lose a bunch of money and track down somebody in a parking lot, especially if the A's end up moving to Vegas. With the live betting, it could get pretty serious.' One National League pitcher said he mutes the word 'parlay' on his social media accounts and uses an alias for Venmo. The online abuse, he said, can make players cynical. 'People suck, dude,' he said. 'But it's part of it. I had a teammate respond to every person who said they lost money on him: 'You're so poor!' That's kind of funny, (but) it's best to not respond to anything. X isn't fun anymore.' One AL East pitcher said he deleted all of his social media accounts and called it 'the best thing I ever did.' But players are human, too, and to expect them to avoid social media and all gambling sites can be unrealistic. Tucupita Marcano, an infielder for San Diego and Pittsburgh from 2021 to 2023, was banned for life last June for betting on baseball, and four other pro players were suspended for a year. One 11-year veteran said it's naive to think that players can't be tempted. 'The fact that it's so easy to do and you can just go on your phone and just look up prop bets, everybody is gambling,' he said. 'Every man that I know. Obviously not baseball players on baseball, but baseball players are gambling on other sports whenever they can. It's easy, it's fun, whatever. … You don't have to travel to Vegas to go to a sportsbook like it's 2010. It's insane. The obsession with gambling is wild. People watch sports now and it's all about the gambling. It's not about who wins the game anymore.' Advertisement And that, one NL catcher said, is antithetical to the way things should be. The embrace of legalized gambling, he said, was a bad bet for MLB. 'It needs to be abolished,' the catcher said. 'It's brought more fans to the games the wrong way.' Editor's note: Some player quotes included in this story have been lightly edited for length and clarity. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photo of Lance McCullers Jr.: Rob Carr / Getty Images)
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
‘I understand': After suspension for betting, A's pitcher Michael Kelly tries to start over
ANAHEIM, Calif. — It took Michael Kelly until he was 31 years old to establish himself as a big league pitcher. There were eight years in the minor leagues — five before he advanced past A-ball. Another season in independent ball, where he had a 5.34 ERA. Then three more years in the minor leagues, punctuated by a couple of call-ups. Advertisement It was a slog, a fight. It meant everything just to make it to where he was in 2024 — a 2.59 ERA with the then-Oakland A's, spanning 31 1/3 innings. He'd finally earned a spot. Then, on June 4 of last year, he got popped for betting just $99.22 on baseball, the bets made when he was a minor leaguer. He was suspended for a year. His betting history was made public in a press release by the league. This was now what he was best known for. And his career was, once again, put on hold. 'Regardless of what it looks like, how it was, I think fans and teams and players, everyone needs to trust the integrity of the game,' Kelly said, saying that he accepted responsibility for the actions that led to his suspension. 'So, because of that, I understand why they did what they did, and they went with the suspension. 'They sent the message, and everyone needs to trust the integrity of the game. And I understand that completely.' Kelly was suspended along with three other players — Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Saalfrank, Padres pitcher Jay Groome and Phillies infielder José Rodriguez. Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned from the sport that same day for betting on Pirates games, while he was on their big-league roster. Saalfrank, who has spent time in the big leagues, was brought back by his organization and is currently pitching in the Arizona Complex League. Both Groome and Rodriguez were non-tendered by their respective clubs and are free agents. Kelly's bets were minuscule, all things considered. They occurred over 12 days, from October 5, 2021, to October 17, all while he was a minor leaguer in the Astros' system. He placed 10 bets involving nine big-league games. Three of the games he bet on involved the Astros. He won a net of $28.30 on his bets. 'I really didn't dwell on it much,' Kelly said, when asked how he can reconcile all this happening over such a relatively small amount of money. 'I focused on what I can control. Being where my feet were, and staying in the moment. I'm not one to look back and dwell on something.' Advertisement Kelly didn't want to discuss how receiving his suspension played out, noting that he'd rather focus on the present. He said he spent his time creating a training facility with two former big leaguers, Josh Tomlin and Steven Hill. The facility was designed to train kids and coach young players. After the initial shock, Kelly heard from many of his teammates. Family supported him, he said. He started the facility because he knew he wanted to stay involved in the game. But still, he missed being on the field. When he returned, he said, 'There was some excitement. Warm welcomes, for sure.' When asked what he wanted to prove in his career, following his suspension, Kelly responded that 'For me, it's just showing my love for the game. … Competing and being the best competitor that I can be. A professional for guys on the team, guys I'm playing against.' Kelly returned to the Athletics on June 5, the first day he was eligible. The team recently lost 20-of-21 games and was in desperate need of bullpen arms. He pitched in his first game back on the roster, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless frames against the Twins. It meant a lot to Kelly. He had to get through a lot just to step on a major league mound for the first time three years ago. He understood why he had to miss the last year, as embarrassing as it was. What he also recognizes, however, is that it was about more than 99 dollars and 22 cents. It was about betting on baseball, and the serious risk to the integrity of the sport that gambling can cause. But he can't control that, not now. So he focuses on what he can impact: getting back out there, pitching again after that self-inflicted mistake. It was so important to him. 'It was everything that I was hoping it was going to be,' Kelly said. 'Just being out there and competing and helping the team, and doing my part. It was everything I could hope for.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wander Franco charged with gun possession as Rays shortstop stands trial in sexual-abuse case
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was charged with illegal possession of a firearm Sunday as he continues to stand trial on charges of sexual abuse, according to multiple reports. The gun possession charge stems from a November altercation that resulted in Franco's arrest. The 24-year-old Franco was arrested after an altercation with another man. Two guns were seized by police following that altercation, one of which was found in Franco's vehicle. Advertisement That gun — a semiautomatic Glock 19 — is reportedly registered in Franco's uncle's name. Franco's lawyer, Antonio Garcia Lorenzo, argued that since the gun is licensed, "there's nothing illegal about it," per reports. Franco is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor. Franco is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Franco allegedly paid the girl's mother thousands of dollars to engage in the relationship. The girl's mother was also charged with sexual abuse of a minor and money laundering. Once considered the top overall prospect in the minor leagues, Franco was in the midst of a breakout season when allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor emerged during the 2023 MLB season. Franco was placed on the restricted list by the Rays that August as MLB investigated the situation. Shorty after that story broke, MLB placed Franco on administrative leave under the league's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. He has not appeared in an MLB game since Aug. 2023. MLB's investigation into Franco remains ongoing as he stands trial in the Dominican Republic. Franco — who signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021 — faces up to 30 years in prison if he's convicted.
