A Cumberland County jury found 28-year-old Angel Rivera guilty on October 28 of two second-degree weapons offenses stemming from a 2021 birthday party in Vineland where he allegedly pulled a gun during a dispute among guests. Rivera now faces five to 10 years in state prison, with sentencing set for December 21.
According to nj1015.com, the jury convicted Rivera of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The charges trace back to June 27, 2021, when Rivera had a handgun at a one-year-old's birthday party in Vineland, the outlet reported.
A Fight Breaks Out, Then a Gun Appears
A physical altercation broke out among party guests that day, and prosecutors said that's when Rivera pulled out a gun to threaten or harass another party-goer. Police were called to the scene, and the station's report notes that Rivera fled when officers arrived, prompting a foot chase.
Officers apprehended Rivera several blocks from the party, but the gun itself wasn't on him when they caught up. Per the same account, a K-9 unit later found the firearm about half a block from where he was caught, with the state alleging Rivera had hidden it in tall weeds on a vacant lot.
Five to 10 Years, With a Sentencing Date Set
Rivera now faces five to 10 years in state prison, including a minimum of three and a half years before he would be eligible for parole, according to the report. His sentencing is scheduled for December 21.
New Jersey's own statutory framework underscores the weight of the unlawful-possession charge. Under state law, a person who knowingly possesses a handgun without first obtaining a permit to carry it is guilty of a crime of the second degree, according to New Jersey Legislature records. The same provision specifies that when the applicable aggravating circumstance is found, the minimum term of parole ineligibility shall be fixed at five years, a benchmark distinct from the three-and-a-half-year minimum reported in Rivera's case.
