AVON - Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of an Avon NY resident on felony sex abuse charges after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
On November 5, 2020 Sheriff’s Investigator Shawn Whitford arrested and charged 38 year old Aaron M. Riojas with felony Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, Forcible Touching, and two (2) counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
It is alleged that in September of 2016 Riojas had sexual contact with a juvenile who was 11 years old at the time. It is further alleged that Riojas had sexual contact again with the same juvenile approximately four years later, when the juvenile was 15 years old.
Riojas was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention as the offenses did qualify for pre-arraignment detention under the NYS Justice Reform Act. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail due to the felony level charges. It was recommended that Riojas be held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Riojas was later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Village of Dansville Justice Kenney. The Judge did remand Riojas to the custody of the Sheriff on the recommended bail of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. Riojas was scheduled to appear for a felony hearing Avon Town Court on November 10th. The defendant waived the felony hearing before Avon Town Justice David Hoffmann however the District Attorney’s Office requested the Judge to reduce bail to $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond. The Judge did reduce the bail to the requested amount. Riojas has since paid his bail and has been set free by Deputies. Further details of this case are being withheld to protect the victim.
