The owner of a Mexican restaurant in Eau Claire is facing new sexual assault charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a second employee.
From WQOW-TV 18, Filiberto Rivera, owner of Manny’s Cocina, was first charged with third degree sexual assault back in May.
In that case, the victim told police Rivera had been offering her drinks for the past few weeks. She said she finally decided to stay after work to “get it over with.”
The victim said that’s when Rivera came out from behind the bar, put his hand on her back and started to push her onto the bar. She said he poured alcohol into her belly button and drank it out three or four times. She said she was “frozen in the moment and let it happen.”
The victim told police Rivera pulled down her pants and underwear and touched her inappropriately. She said she told him stop, but instead he lifted up her shirt and touched her more.
Now, a second victim says Rivera sexually assaulted her at work. She claims Rivera invited her to stay after work for drinks, and so she stayed because she was told it as a good thing if the owner asked her to stay.
The victim said Rivera asked her multiple times to get on the bar so he could take a shot out of her belly button. She felt her job would be at risk if she kept saying no, so she agreed.
The victim said that is when Rivera started touching her inappropriately. He also asked her to have sex in the restroom, which she refused, according to the complaint.
She says she never returned to work after the incident.
Now, Rivera is charged with a count of second degree sexual assault and a count of attempted second degree sexual assault on top of the third degree charge he was already facing.
Rivera faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted on all the charges. He is back in court July 30.