David Elder, 45, of Lewes, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of the rape of a senior citizen and faces a mandatory life sentence because of previous convictions that qualify him for sentencing as an habitual offender. In the early morning hours of December 28, 2015, Elder unlawfully entered the residence of a 78-year-old woman and raped her while wearing a ski mask to disguise his identity. After a four-day jury trial prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Casey L. Ewart, Elder was convicted of Rape First Degree, Rape Second Degree, Burglary First Degree, and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony on December 15, 2017. Elder is already a registered sex offender as a result of a 1993 conviction for Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree, and he was previously declared to be an habitual offender in connection with a conviction for Failure to Re-Register as a Sex Offender in 2012. Sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2018, and Elder is facing a mandatory life sentence for the Rape First Degree charge. DOJ paralegal Veronica McKain and Administrative Specialist Angelique Waters provided valuable assistance to the prosecution team, while Det. Joshua Rowley of the Delaware State Police and DOJ Social Worker Carla Ennals played vital roles in the successful prosecution of this case.

A Laurel man who raped and impregnated a teenage girl faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of up to 50 years in prison, after pleading guilty on December 15, 2017, to charges of Rape Second Degree, Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust, Supervision, or Authority 2nd Degree, Rape 4th Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Defendant Omar Cameron repeatedly raped a juvenile girl over a lengthy period of time ending in early 2017, until one of those rapes caused the victim to become pregnant. After the victim’s mother learned of the pregnancy, she reported it to the authorities and Cameron was arrested. DNA testing subsequently confirmed that Cameron was responsible for impregnating the victim. A sentencing date is pending. Det. Tyler Bryan of the Laurel Police Department led the investigation and arrested Cameron, while Deputy Attorney General Casey L. Ewart prosecuted the case and was assisted by Administrative Specialist Angelique Waters and Social Worker Carla Ennals.

Daniel Simmons, 35, of Pike Creek, pled guilty to one count of fourth degree rape in New Castle County Superior Court this morning. The plea, secured by Deputy Attorney General Peggy Marshall, resolves a case charging Simmons with raping a teenage boy.

Simmons was arrested May 2, 2014 and immediately placed on administrative leave. He resigned from his position three days later.

As a result of the plea, Simmons faces up to 15 years in prison, will be required to register as a Tier II sex offender, and can have no contact with his victim.

The victim’s family said in a statement they are satisfied with the resolution. “We are happy to have avoided a public trial. We want him held accountable, and don’t want him to hurt anyone else.”

Simmons will be sentenced June 16, 2015.

Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that his office has arrested an employee of a New Castle County group home for sex crimes against a resident.  The charges allege that Hedwidge Rivas, age 71, engaged in unlawful sexual contact with the victim on multiple occasions between June and July of this year.  The sexual assaults are alleged to have taken place at a Newark group home operated by Bancroft, where Rivas worked as an aide.

“Our greatest responsibility is to act to protect the most vulnerable Delawareans,” Biden said.

The criminal investigation, conducted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with the support of Newark Police and New Castle County Police, was initiated after a report was made in mid-July to the State and the Newark Police Department.  Rivas, age 71, of Wilmington, was taken into custody this morning by Special Investigators with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and charged with:

• One count of Rape 2^nd Degree
• One count of Rape 3^rd Degree
• One count of Unlawful Sexual Contact 3^rd Degree
• Three counts of Patient Abuse

Rivas was booked at New Castle County Police headquarters, was arraigned via videophone from JP Court #2, and was taken to Howard R. Young Correctional Center in lieu of $127,000 cash bail.  Anyone with information that may assist in the ongoing investigation is urged to contact Special Investigator Curtis Clifton in the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 302-577-8155.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is charged with protecting residents who receive Medicaid funds and the taxpayers who support the Medicaid Program.  The Unit acts to combat patient abuse, neglect, mistreatment, and financial exploitation in nursing homes and other facilities that receive Medicaid funds, and investigates healthcare providers who defraud the Medicaid program.

A booking image of Rivas is attached.

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