Accused rapist still free on bail

SALEM – Bail for a former Lynn man accused of raping a teenage girl over a four-year span beginning when she was 10 years old remains at $2,500 cash after he pleaded innocent in Salem Superior Court Friday.Jose Rivas, 35, formerly of 90 Henry Ave., #1, answered not guilty to rape of a child as well as two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and a single count of indecent assault and battery on a child 14 or older – crimes that could put him in prison for life. Judge Howard J. Whitehead agreed to set the same bail as previously established in district court at the joint recommendation of the prosecutor and defense.Rivas, who is a cook and now lives in East Boston, was ordered back to court on April 25 for a pretrial conference.In the meantime he remains free on bail.The charges stem from incidents at his former home between Jan. 1, 2003 and Nov. 1, 2007 when he allegedly raped the girl and inappropriately fondled her. The victim, now 15, reported the sexual abuse in early October and Rivas was arrested.Assistant District Attorney John B. Brennan tried to have Whitehead impose a GPS tracking device on Rivas pending trial, but the judge rejected the request.