Ex-Officer Found Not Guilty Of Sexual Assault, Official Oppression

A jury found a former El Paso police officer accused of forcing a woman to give him oral sex not guilty of sexual assault and official oppression Friday morning in the 210th District Court.

Former police officer Zake Rivera burst in tears and clutched a rosary when the verdict was read.

“That was the worst year of my life,” Rivera said after the court was dismissed. “I’ll never make a mistake like a that again.”

Rivera, who was responding to domestic disturbance call at the time of the alleged incident, testified Wednesday that the 46-year-old woman seduced him. Rivera faced up to 21 years in prison on charges of sexual assault and official oppression.

Before Judge Gonzalo Garcia read verdict, Rivera appeared somber and anxious. He kissed his rosary and pumped his fist when the second verdict was read, clearing him of official oppression and sexual assault.

Rivera told reporters he just wants to spend time with his family and never return to law enforcement.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Rivera said. “I know the mistake I made. Now I can fix it and become a better person. I just want to go home now.”

Rivera thanked God and everyone who stood by his side throughout the trial.

The jury began deliberating Thursday.

The 29-year-old Rivera appeared calm and collected on the stand Wednesday — a day after his accuser took the stand. He answered question after question about whether he exposed himself or intimidated his accuser into performing oral sex on him while she sat in the back of his squad car last January during a domestic disturbance call.

Rivera repeatedly denied the accusations, and said that his accuser was flirtatious and exposed her breasts to him before telling him she had previously worked as a dancer at a West El Paso strip club, where she told him she had performed oral sex on police officers and firefighters.

Rivera admitted that he did let the woman perform oral sex on him, but that it was purely consensual and only after she told him to show her his penis.

Rivera was then asked by his attorney whether he felt what he did was wrong.

“Yeah, it was wrong,” Rivera said. “It was wrong for me to do… on the (Police) Department. It was unprofessional and unethical. I should have known better.”

Rivera, who was fired by police Chief Greg Allen in March, also said Wednesday that he regretted the whole night and his life has not been the same since.