James Riviera

Home After 21 Years

In November 1996, James was convicted by a jury of five counts of first-degree burglary—and due to a prior string of residential burglaries where he stole expensive jewelry—James was sentenced to 140 years-to-life in prison. Mr. Riviera was 60 years old at the time.

James was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He had eight siblings, and dealt with an abusive, alcoholic parent from a very young age. When James was 12 years old, his parents divorced. As a single mother of nine children, his mother supported their large family working as a seamstress in a custom dress shop.  In 1958, Mr. Riviera was drafted into the army. 

With a 140-years-to-life and entering prison at the age of 60, James expected to die in prison.  But, he decided to use his time productively and over the course of 25 years in prison he stayed clear of trouble with an exceptional prison record—a feat made more remarkable given the harsh conditions within prison.

On May 3, 2021, at the recommendation of San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, the court resentenced Mr. Riviera and ordered his resentencing. Now 84 years old, James served 25 years in prison and had 115 years-to-life remaining on his sentence. Today, he resides in San Diego and is tending to his health.