Son found not guilty by reason of insanity related to father's death

A man charged with his father’s murder was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to Travis County court documents.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man charged with murder in connection with an April 2023 incident was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to Travis County court documents.

Jesse Anthony Rivera, who was 31 years old at the time of the incident, was originally charged in the death of his father, 51-year-old Jesse Rivera Jr., which occurred April 13, 2023.

Records showed Rivera waived his right to a jury trial and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

After hearing the evidence and seeking a professional opinion on Rivera’s mental state at the time of his father’s death, the court deemed him not guilty by reason of insanity.

As part of the judgment, Rivera must be committed to a mental health facility or residential care facility for treatment.

The judge ordered Rivera to be evaluated within 30 days as to whether or not he poses a threat and if he should continue treatment. If he is determined to need continued treatment, Rivera could be committed to a mental health facility for up to 99 years, which is the maximum sentence for murder.