Clark County Common Pleas Judge Richard O’Neill sentenced Rivera to four years in prison. Rivera has filed an appeal of his sentence.
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Rivera was charged in connection with the murder of Tiffany Chambers and the subsequent cover-up.
Chambers was killed by Prentiss Hare in 2015 in an alley off Pleasant Street and her body was hidden in Greene County, according to investigators. Her remains were found in 2016 — launching an investigation that eventually identified both her and her killer.
“What originally happened was there was a murder in Florida,” said Dan Driscoll, chief of the criminal division at the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, on Tuesday. “Prentiss Hare then brought Tiffany Chambers (and) Carmelo Rivera … from Florida up to the Springfield area. Once they were here, they were here for a couple weeks, Prentiss became nervous that Tiffany was talking to other individuals so he beat her to death.”
Rivera and Hannah Whitman acted as a lookout for Hare during the slaying, Driscoll said.
“There was an area off of Pleasant Street where the murder occurred and there are two driveways that come into that area. It appears Carmelo was on one side and Hannah was on the other and they both kept watch while the murder happened,” Driscoll said.
Rivera was sentenced Nov. 7.
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Whitman pleaded guilty to the same charges earlier this year and was given probation.
“Ms. Whitman didn’t have a lengthy criminal record,” Driscoll said. “She didn’t have any felony convictions. She had a history of some issues prior to this happening. When the judge looked at Mr. Rivera, he had a history of criminal convictions including felony convictions burglary, passing bad checks and bigamy.”
Danielle Abdullah, a friend to Chambers, said all three deserve long prison sentences for their role in her death.
“Anyone who played a role in her death, you are a monster and you deserve to live in a cage for the rest of your life,” she said.
Abdullah argued all three knew what they were doing and played an active role in killing her friend.
“This was a human sacrifice,” she said. “They wanted to prove their loyalty to Prentiss Hare and that they were down for his murderous ways.”
Whitman has since allegedly violated her probation, according to court documents. An affidavit filed in her case alleges she’s had contact with witnesses or defendants in the case. A ruling hasn’t been made on the alleged violation.
Hare pleaded guilty to Chamber’s murder earlier this year. Driscoll said that wouldn’t have happened without Rivera and Whitman’s help.
“We needed information to get the conviction on Prentiss Hare,” he said. “I think we documented pretty well what a threat Prentiss Hare is to this community. Ms. Whitman and Mr. Rivera provided information we needed to get that conviction.”
Driscoll said authorities learned about the three because of tips from the community. The case is now resolved, he said.
“It’s always nice when you can reach out to a family who’s got that missing part in their lives and try to give them some closure,” he said.
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