Hunter Rivera, 24, chairman of the Weld County Republican Party, was arrested Thursday in a Larimer County undercover operation that authorities say targeted people seeking sex with minors. Rivera faces multiple felony counts, including soliciting a child prostitute, internet luring of a child, and attempted sexual assault on a child, and he was being held on a $6,500 cash-only bond. Rivera lives in Windsor and has previously worked as an aide to Republican lawmakers at the Colorado State Capitol.
What investigators say
According to a press release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, deputies ran an undercover operation Thursday in which they posed as underage sellers on local websites and forums. The sheriff’s office said "several dozen people" responded to the listings, and two men arrived at an agreed location where deputies arrested them and booked them into the Larimer County Jail. The release also notes that "these charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty."
Rivera's political background
Rivera is listed as chairman on the Weld County GOP website and has been active in county and state Republican organizing. The local party profile traces his involvement to youth GOP groups and work as a legislative aide, a history that aligns with reporting by The Colorado Sun. The Sun also reported that Rivera did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the arrests.
Charges and booking details
The Larimer County release names Rivera and a second man, Ismaaeel Abdur‑Rahmaan of Fort Collins, as the two people arrested in the sting. Rivera was issued a $6,500 cash-only bond while Abdur‑Rahmaan was issued a $7,500 cash-only bond, and both were booked into the county jail on the felony counts listed in the release. Booking photos and the sheriff’s statement are available on the county site.
What the law says
Colorado law treats soliciting a child for prostitution as a serious felony: soliciting for child prostitution is classified under state law as a class 3 felony. According to legal summaries of the statutes, internet luring is prosecuted under CRS 18-3-306 and is typically a class 5 felony, or a class 4 felony in aggravated circumstances involving intent to meet for sexual contact. Those statutes can carry years-long prison terms and other penalties if a defendant is convicted.
What's next
Rivera remains in custody pending further court proceedings, and it was not clear whether he has stepped down from his party role; the Weld County GOP site continues to list him as chairman. Local prosecutors or the Larimer County courts will determine formal filings and upcoming hearings, and the standard presumption of innocence applies as the case moves forward.
