Man accused of rape, other charges, in connection with great-niece’s death injured in jail fight
Miguel Rivera will be kept in solitary confinement and will not interact with other inmates, officials said.
The Lawrence man accused of child rape, among other charges, in connection with the death of his 11-year-old great niece was injured Tuesday night in an altercation with other inmates, authorities said.
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Miguel Rivera, 58, “sustained some bumps, bruises and a small cut” in the fight around 8:30 p.m. at the Middleton House of Corrections, according to the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.
Rivera is being held without bail for charges of rape of a child with force, misleading a police investigation, and permitting substantial bodily injury to a child in connection with the death of Precious Wallaces, who reportedly died with fentanyl in her system. Wallaces was found unresponsive in Rivera’s home on Dec. 15; she died in a hospital three days later.
Rivera was treated for his injuries and placed in solitary confinement. He “will have no interaction with other inmates,” according to the sheriff’s statement.
Four inmates were reportedly involved in the altercation. The sheriff’s department’s special investigation unit is looking into what happened and will work with the Essex County District Attorney’s office on potential charges, the statement said.
