Dauphin County man convicted of raping spa workers at gunpoint in Lancaster County attack
Lancaster, PA – A jury in Lancaster County has found a Dauphin County man guilty of raping two women at gunpoint inside a Penn Township spa, convicting him on multiple felony charges following a three-day trial.
Christopher A. Rivera, 38, of Middletown Borough, was convicted Wednesday on two counts each of robbery, rape by forcible compulsion, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion, along with four counts of sexual assault.
The charges stem from an incident on the evening of August 27, 2024, when Rivera entered a spa in the 1200 block of Lancaster Road and initially demanded cash. After the two female employees handed over more than $800 from the business, Rivera forced them at gunpoint into a massage room where he raped both victims.
Investigators say Rivera used a pellet gun that resembled a semi-automatic firearm during the attack. Surveillance footage captured Rivera threatening the women, forcing them into the massage room, and later fleeing through a back exit as law enforcement arrived.
Shortly after 8 p.m., a Northern Lancaster County Regional Police officer encountered Rivera behind the business. Rivera was shot after he ignored commands and reached for the weapon, according to officials. District Attorney Heather Adams later ruled the officer was legally justified in the use of force.
Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick prosecuted the case, which concluded with the jury returning a guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberation.
Judge Jeffrey Conrad, who presided over the trial, will sentence Rivera at a later date.
The investigation was led by Lancaster County Detective Brent Shultz.
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Key Points
- Christopher A. Rivera was convicted of rape, robbery, and multiple sexual assault charges
- Attack took place at gunpoint inside a Penn Township spa on August 27, 2024
- Rivera was shot by police while fleeing and reaching for a realistic-looking pellet gun