Joshua Rivera

A jury trial will be held in late March or early April for a Butler man charged in the October 2023 fatal hit-and-run of a 15-year-old boy who was riding a bicycle in Butler Township.

Joshua A. Rivera, 39, is facing charges of homicide by vehicle, third-degree murder, accidents involving death or injury while not licensed and a slew of other charges in the Oct. 20 death of Aiden Lutz, 15, who was a sophomore at Butler Senior High School.

At a Common Pleas Court hearing Monday, Dec. 9, before Senior Judge Christopher St. John, District Attorney Richard Goldinger said his office is ready for a trial, which he expects to last three or four days. He said the next trial term is scheduled for March, and the victim’s family wants to see the case resolved.

Rivera’s attorney, assistant public defender Joseph Smith, said he is waiting for an expert to finish an investigation, but he will be ready for the trial in March or April. He said he plans to file motions to exclude evidence before the trial.

St. John scheduled a status conference for Feb. 24, and said he will schedule the trial for late March or early April. He said it takes 30 days to summon a jury.

Township police said Lutz was riding his electric bike on Dutchtown Road on Oct. 19, 2023, when he was struck by Rivera. The teen died Oct. 20 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh as a result of his injuries.

A witness testified at Rivera’s preliminary hearing in December 2023 that he saw a speeding car strike Lutz, who regularly rode his bike in the neighborhood.

The impact sent Lutz airborne, and the car passed under him before he landed on the street, the witness said.

Rivera stopped the car, got out and said “Oh my God,” and “I’m so sorry” before speeding away, according to the witness.

Penn Township police found Rivera’s car the day of the incident at the rear of a home on Dutchtown Road.

Following the crash, police sought Rivera for several days before he was found Oct. 22 at Comfort Inn in Butler Township with his girlfriend.

Police said Rivera’s driver’s license was suspended for DUI at the time of the crash.

Rivera is being held in Butler County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

In an unrelated case, Rivera pleaded guilty to his second DUI offense, which was filed by Butler city police following a Dec. 25, 2022, incident, and was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in the county jail and pay a $300 fine.