file photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood doctor charged with storing bomb-making materials wants to be own lawyer
MONDAY JULY 15, 2013, 6:34 PM
BY KIBRET MARKOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
A Ridgewood doctor accused of stockpiling large amounts of bomb-making materials at his home told a judge on Monday that he wants to be his own attorney.
Roberto Rivera said at his arraignment in Superior Court in Hackensack that he does not want to be represented by the Bergen County Public Defender’s Office, which was assigned to his case shortly after Rivera’s arrest in November 2012.
Judge Edward Jerejian instructed Rivera to make a formal request by September to represent himself in court.
Jerejian entered a not-guilty plea on Rivera’s behalf as the 61-year-old physician was arraigned on an 11-count indictment that charges him with causing the risk of widespread damage by storing large amounts of hazardous materials.
Rivera also is charged with unlawful possession of assault weapons.
Why has this case taken so long to come to trial?