Man Sentenced to Prison in Park Home Invasion

The man arrested and found guilty during a bench trial in is serving a 30 to 60 year prison term after being sentenced by Judge Timothy Kenny in third circuit court.

Gregory Rivers, 58, of Detroit, was convicted of car jacking, first degree home invasion, unarmed robbery, unlawful imprisonment and unlawful driving of a motor vehicle during a three day bench trial before Kenny in December.

Kenny recently sentenced Rivers to 30 to 60 years in prison on the carjacking count; 5 to 20 years in prison on home invasion; 4 to 15 years on each unarmed robbery and unlawful imprisonment; and 2 to 5 years on unlawful driving of a motor vehicle.

He broke into an apartment in the 1400 block of Maryland Street Aug. 25 shortly before noon. Police said he confronted the resident with demands for money. He then stole cash, jewelry, a laptop computer and the woman's car, which he crashed into a telephone pole after responding officers spotted him and began following him. Rivers was arrested at the site of the crash and the stolen goods belonging to the Maryland Street woman were recovered from inside the car.

Rivers held the woman against her will in her apartment. Police have declined to be more specific about the circumstances of how she was held against her will but simply said Rivers would not allow her to leave.

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Rivers has a criminal history dating back to 1987 with convictions for armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, breaking and entering, possession of narcotics and more.

He has been in custody since his arrest in August, which means that time will be applied to his prison terms as credit toward time served. Rivers waived his right to a trial by jury in mid-November and was found guilty following the three-day bench trial in mid-December. He was sentenced Feb. 3.