|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Defense attorneys representing a landowner at the epicenter of a national voyeurism scandal are expected to provide closing remarks next week in his civil trial.
On Friday, September 20, 2024, South Carolina circuit court judge Martha Rivers denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial in one of eight civil cases related to voyeurism allegations against disgraced Airbnb host Rhett Riviere, 70, of Aiken County, S.C.
“What we have had is drip, drip, drip, drip, throughout four days of testimony,” Riviere’s defense attorneys noted in their bid for a mistrial. “That drip has now burst the dam of improper character assaults against Mr. Riviere… a character assault since day one.”
Represented by attorneys Joe McCulloch and Jim Griffin, Riviere stands accused of surreptitiously recording a married couple who briefly leased a cottage he owned in 2001. He’s furthermore accused of editing the videos he recorded and labeling the export “Heather and Gabriel.”
***
RELATED | VOYEURISM MISTRIAL DENIED
***
According to alleged Riviere victim Heather Crespo, she did not learn of the aforementioned recordings until 2022 — when agents of the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) discovered about 21,000 videos during an investigation requested by the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
Over the ensuing years, SLED charged Riviere with three counts of voyeurism for recording tenants between the bedrooms and bathrooms of his rental properties. As of this writing, those criminal charges remain unprosecuted by the office of S.C. second circuit solicitor Bill Weeks.
During Friday’s proceedings, plaintiff attorney Deborah Barbier noted 3.7 terabytes of data were ultimately seized from Riviere’s properties. She furthermore emphasized that only ten of his 21,000 recordings were admitted into evidence for the ongoing civil trial.
“A trial judge should try every attempt to cure the issue rather than grant a mistrial,” Rivers said in response to the motion from Riviere’s council. “I do not see another way to instruct the jury on the intrusive nature of [Riviere’s] behavior.”
Upon resuming Friday’s proceedings, Barbier called Heather’s ex-husband to the witness stand. He then delivered what at least one attorney referred to as the “most impactful” testimony since the trial commenced on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
“I feel like I failed as a father,” a choked-up Gabriel Crespo testified — citing concern for the daughter he exposed to Riviere when she was an adolescent. “No kid needs to go through this… This guy needs to be stopped. [Riviere’s] been doing this for four decades.”
***
? #BREAKING: S.C. Circut Court Judge Martha Rivers has denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial in the civil case against disgraced landowner Rhett Riviere.
— Andrew Fancher (@RealAndyFancher) September 20, 2024
Twice arrested by agents of the S.C. Law Enforcment Division (#SLED), Riviere will remain on trial for purportedly… pic.twitter.com/my5kgruGPs
***
Following Crespo’s testimony, Riviere’s attorneys moved again for a mistrial — arguing Crespo’s remarks tainted the jury. Once again, their motion was denied.
Upon resuming Friday’s proceedings a second time, Barbier called Heather Crespo to the witness stand. She concurred with her ex-husband’s anxieties over their daughter — and expounded on the totality of Riviere’s alleged surveillance.
“There were a lot of computers,” Heather said, recalling a hidden office in the bathroom of their cottage in 2001. “And there were computers all over the desk. All over. And all I could think of is, ‘Oh my god… I should not be in [Riviere’s] office. And so, we walked out the door.”
Following Heather’s teary-eyed testimony, the plaintiffs rested their case before 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday. Come Monday, September 23, 2024, Riviere’s counsel is expected to call one witness to the stand prior to resting their case. At that point, closing arguments will begin.
As we await the outcome of the trial, rumors have begun swirling as to whether any local luminaries may have been recorded on Riviere’s extensive hidden camera system. Anyone with information regarding this component of the saga is encouraged to contact andy@fitsnews.com.
On February 27, 2024, Riviere was listed in an incident report filed by the Prosperity Police Department (PDP) for purportedly taking pictures of an 18-year-old standing in the line of a Dollar General. As far as this publishing is concerned, charges have not been filed.
This story may be updated.
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
