Judge ups bail for Albion man arrested while awaiting sentencing

ALBION – An Albion man who pleaded guilty to a weapons charge on March 1, and has been out of jail awaiting sentencing, had his bail increased Monday from $20,000 to $100,000.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone requested a higher bail after Christopher D. Rivers Jr. was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct, a charge that Cardone said could be upgraded to attempted gang assault. Cardone said Rivers is involved with a local gang, the A Squad.

Rivers on March 1 pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a firearm. He could face up to a year in the county jail when he is sentenced on May 23.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said he may not accept that plea deal and could force Rivers to go to trial where he could face a prison sentence.

Christopher D. Rivers Jr.

Rivers in January was arrested on charges of kidnapping, robbery, grand larceny, criminal use of a firearm, unlawful imprisonment and menacing for allegedly holding adult male and female victims against their will and forcing a woman to withdraw money from her ATM.

Victims in the crime were reluctant to testify. But Cardone said people are now stepping forward, willing to testify.

Rivers appeared in court on Monday and his attorney said the Cardone’s claims “are merely allegations.”

Cardone said Rivers posted a picture of himself with a gun on Facebook last Thursday. An earlier Facebook picture of Rivers with a Remington shotgun with a shortened barrel was used in court on March 1 when Rivers pleaded guilty to the weapons charge.

Rivers’ attorney said the latest photo may have been from months ago, and not be a recent image. The attorney said Rivers has a job and had made all of his court appearances, and doesn’t warrant higher bail.