‘A rage in his eyes’: Attorneys share arguments at bond hearing in Scott’s Addition deadly assault case

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A bond hearing Wednesday morning has revealed new details about the deadly assault of Jacob Baldwin in Richmond earlier in October. 8News Reporter Victoria Lucas attended the bond hearing for the accused assailant, Nico Rivera, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, which resulted in his bond being raised to $150,000 from an initial bond of $15,000. This comes in connection to an incident on Saturday, Oct. 12 where Rivera allegedly assaulted Baldwin, after which Baldwin was pronounced dead several days later. The prosecution's argument During the hearing, the prosecution explained the alleged events that occurred that night. The prosecution said that Baldwin and his friends were leaving a wedding before they stopped at a bar and then began heading to restaurant and bar En Su Boca in the city's Scott's Addition area. The prosecution also noted that Rivera had been through anger management training, that he came from the U.S. from the Philippines at 4 years old, and that he has training in jiu jitsu. The prosecution said that relations between Baldwin's friends and Rivera's friends were amicable initially, but at some point, the prosecution said Rivera became angry, and his girlfriend told him to stop. The prosecution said Rivera was then held back by one of his friends, who later said he had seen "a rage in his eyes he had never seen before," and let him go. Afterward, a video was shown in the courtroom that was taken by a bystander. The prosecution said that the video shows witnesses saying that Rivera's girlfriend told him, "You hit him." The prosecution then said the video shows Rivera taking off his shirt, running around, and then his friends heading over to Baldwin, after which Rivera is seen punching the right side of Baldwin's face. The prosecution said Baldwin then falls, unconscious, to the ground. The prosecution said the video then shows Rivera looking at Baldwin on the ground, after which the defense said Rivera said, "He doesn't look to good." The prosecution said the video then shows Rivera running away. The prosecution said Rivera's punch fractured Baldwin's skull. The prosecution also said Rivera's actions were an intentional act of violence, and that he made an intentional decision to attack a defenseless person. The prosecution also added that it wasn't until a media release and warrant of arrest by police that Rivera turned himself in. The defense's argument The defense questioned why the prosecution mentioned that Rivera immigrated to the U.S. The defense also said that Rivera contacted the defense's office on Friday, Oct. 18 to say he was a person of interest in the case, after which the defense contacted the Commonwealth's Attorney. The defense said that Rivera turned himself in one hour after the warrant for his arrest was issued. The defense further said, "this is a single punch case," and added that the results are tragic, but if the results were different, the case would have been an assault-and-battery case. The defense then showed the court 48 letters from Rivera's family and friends as well as community members, some of whom are members of the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps and the U.S. Airforce. The defense added that the letters show that his fellow community members will hold him accountable and that they know his upcoming court dates. The judge's decision The judge said Rivera is a suitable candidate for bond, and granted a $150,000 secure bond. It was ordered that Rivera is to keep the peace, obey all laws and have a Home Electric Monitoring (HEM) system, which involves a GPS device attached to his body. The judge said that Rivera can only leave home to meet with a lawyer, to attend a medical appointment, a meeting for HEM and court dates. Rivera is also prohibited from contacting any witnesses in the case, including his girlfriend. The judge also said Rivera would be tested for use of a controlled substance.