Man accused of killing Jacob Baldwin to remain on house arrest
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The man accused of killing 27-year-old Jacob Baldwin in October will remain on house arrest after a Thursday morning court ruling.
On Thursday, April 17, the judge ruled that Rivera, who will face a five-day jury trial this October, will only be allowed to leave the confines of his home to be outdoors and do yard work at his morning court ruling at the Richmond City Circuit Court.
The judge ruled against allowing Rivera to attend church or have contact with his girlfriend, who was a key witness in the case.
Rivera, also 27, will face a five-day jury trial starting Oct. 20, 2025, for second-degree murder. On Oct. 12, 2024, he was charged with assaulting and killing Baldwin after a fight in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood -- this led to Rivera reportedly punching Baldwin, a stranger.
Baldwin then fell and hit his head or face, which caused him to fall onto the pavement and fracture his skull in the intersection of West Marshall and North Sheppard streets, according to police. Four days later, Baldwin died.
After the Richmond Police Department issued a warrant for Rivera's arrest on Oct. 19, 2024, he surrendered at the city's police headquarters that same day.
Prior to Thursday's ruling, the judge said that Rivera could only leave home to meet with a lawyer, attend a medical appointment, Home Electric Monitoring (HEM) meetings and court dates on Oct. 23, 2024. He was also prohibited from contacting any witnesses in the case, including his girlfriend.
