April 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in the state’s case against Ridgewood Resident Dr. Roberto Rivera, a physician who was indicted in 2012 for stockpiling large amounts of bomb-making materials in his Ridgewood home.
At the time authorities including the Ridgewood police discovered a stock of hazardous materials during a 2012 raid on Rivera’s Union Street home, including nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, sulfuric acid, calcium hypochlorite and potassium perchlorate. Along with multiple weapons, authorities also recovered 10 thermite lighters, which can be used as detonators.
In 2012, Dr. Roberto Rivera, 60, was reported to be active in the Occupy Wall Street movement and a far left wing activist .His license to practice medicine temporarily suspended in 2013 and in 2015, he was cleared by a court to represent himself in his trial.
This past Wednesday Judge Frances McGrogan made her decision after a juror independently obtained information about the case during deliberations, said Joseph Torre, a Bergen County assistant prosecutor.
The three-day trial in March saw testimony from detectives who seized two Cobray M11 9mm assault rifles and a large-capacity ammunition magazine from Rivera’s house, Torre said.
Rivera is charged with possession of assault weapons and a high-capacity magazine. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
A new trial will take place in June,and the state will also hold a second trial in October on charges related to the explosive material, including possession of a destructive device and creating risk of widespread harm.