Lawrence man admits to perjury

July 03, 2008 12:00 am

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SALEM, Mass. — A Lawrence man admitted yesterday that he lied to an Essex County grand jury investigating the 2006 shooting death of Rafael Gomez, 19, of Lawrence.

Carlos Rivera, 26, who also has an address in Springfield, was convicted of perjury in Salem Superior Court.

Judge Howard Whitehead sentenced Rivera to one year in the house of correction. Essex Assistant District Attorney Jean Curran had asked the judge to impose a sentence of six to seven years in state prison. Defense counsel Paul Farina asked the court to place his client on probation, or alternatively, suspend any jail sentence imposed.

Whitehead lauded Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office for aggressively pursuing the perjury charges against Rivera and his three codefendants, noting that the integrity of the judicial system is compromised whenever a witness comes before the court and lies.

Also charged with perjury in the matter are Mindy Thai, 20, and Yashira Nunez, 22, both of Lawrence and Ricard Gonzalez, 21, of Methuen. Their cases are pending.

Gomez was shot at the corner of Short and Oak streets in Lawrence in the early morning hours of Aug. 5, 2006.

Charged with his killing are David Polanco, 22, of Lawrence, and Alexis Chavez, 20, of Methuen. Both men are in custody and awaiting trial.