State Attorney Ed Brodsky announced today that Daniel Rivera was convicted of Criminal Mischief ($1000 Or More); Cruelty To Animals, Felony Battery; Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon, Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon and Tampering With A Witness. The crimes were committed on 06/03/2025, 06/24/2025, 02/17/2026, and 02/24/2026. These crimes were investigated by the Bradenton Police Department. The Defendant was sentenced to 7 years prison.
Daniel Rivera was in an on and off again relationship with the young female victim. On 6/03/2025, Daniel Rivera was at the victim’s apartment, and an argument ensued. Daniel Rivera grabbed the victim’s one month old kitten and threw it off the balcony of a four-story apartment building into busy traffic. While on the scene, law enforcement observed the victim with two black eyes and a laceration to her neck. Law enforcement asked the victim how she received the injuries, but she refused to disclose any information.
On 6/24/2025, Daniel Rivera returned to the victim’s apartment to spend the night. An argument ensued after he entered the apartment. During the argument, Daniel Rivera grabbed the victim by the neck and pulled her into her bedroom. Sometime later, the victim stood up on the bed in attempt to get away from Daniel Rivera. Immediately thereafter, he grabbed a pistol that was sitting on the dresser, pointed it at the victim and told her to get off the bed. Daniel Rivera then grabbed the victim’s cell phone, threw it against the wall causing it to be inoperable, and told the victim to go take a shower. While the victim was taking a shower, Daniel Rivera punched the victim on the left side of her face causing major swelling and opening of an old laceration. Daniel Rivera continued to abuse the victim throughout the night until he left for work. Subsequently, Daniel Rivera was arrested, and the court imposed a no contact order for him not to have contact with the victim. Immediately thereafter Daniel Rivera violated the court’s order by calling the victim and telling her to drop the charges. As a result of this contact, the State moved for a bond revocation which was granted. The State filed additional charges of Tampering With A Witness.
The lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant State Attorney Limeecha Dunbar commented,
“Daniel Rivera thought he was above the law. He abused a one-month-old kitten, and he abused the victim. Daniel Rivera was ordered by the court to have no contact with the victim, but he continued to call her to drop charges during the pendency of the cases. Despite Daniel Rivera’s willful defiance of the law, he found out that he is not above the law when he was sentenced to 7 years prison on 05/7/2026. With the hard work of law enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office, Daniel Rivera is unable to hurt anyone during his sentence.”
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Assistant State Attorney Limeecha Dunbar in the Manatee County office at 941-747-3077.