A senior enlisted soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, has been indicted in civilian court for alleged sexual abuse of a child, marking the second time he has faced similar charges in recent years, according to court records.
Sgt. Maj. Victor Manuel Rivera was arrested on June 18 and released on a $90,000 bond on June 30. He is facing a first-degree felony charge of child sexual abuse, court documents show.
Army officials declined to comment on the details of the case but said they were cooperating with authorities. Rivera could not be reached for comment.
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“While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing civilian legal matter, the alleged crimes of Sgt. Maj. Victor Manuel Rivera do not reflect the values of the Army or the men and women who serve honorably at Fort Hood,” Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, a service spokesperson, said in a statement. “We will cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities. We remain committed to accountability, transparency and protecting our community.”
Rivera, 48, is also in an ongoing trial from similar charges in 2021 when he was taken into custody for alleged sexual assault of a minor and indecency with a child, according to reporting from ABC 25, a television station in nearby Waco, Texas.
Despite those pending charges, he continued serving at Fort Hood, one of the Army’s largest installations. Rivera, an information technology specialist, is currently assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, III Armored Corps.
It’s relatively common for the Army not to charge soldiers with crimes if the civilian justice system is already involved. Yet the service has various administrative options at its disposal including a separation board.
There, the service evaluates whether a soldier should be kicked out of the service and whether they should be allowed to retire honorably and maintain benefits or other privileges that come with honorable retirement.
Fort Hood has come under scrutiny in recent years following a series of high-profile crimes and leadership failures.
The 2020 murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, who was killed by another soldier on base, prompted national outrage and calls for reform in how the Army handles cases of sexual misconduct and violence, particularly against women and junior enlisted personnel.
The Army has also historically faced criticism for delays in taking administrative action against service members involved in civilian criminal proceedings.
That issue drew broader attention after several members of the National Guard and Army Reserve remained in uniform while facing charges tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. However, all of them were eventually booted from service.
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