Jose Ariel Rivera, age 32 of Laurens County, pled guilty to Burglary Second Degree in Saluda County this week. Rivera was already serving an active prison sentence for Burglary, Safe Cracking, and Grand Larceny when Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, sentenced him to 10 years in prison consecutive to his previous sentence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Doug Fender and investigated by the Saluda County Sheriff's Office.

Rivera broke into a home in Saluda County and stole multiple items of value, including firearms. Rivera is a repeat offender with prior convictions for multiple burglaries and other crimes. He also has a conviction for having a weapon while in prison from 2018.