Colorado GOP county chair was arrested in a sting operation after allegedly arranging to meet with undercover officers posing as minors online

Hunter Rivera, the Weld County Republican Party chairman, was arrested in a sting operation in Windsor, Colorado, after authorities alleged he tried to arrange sexual activity with undercover officers who were posing as minors online. 

Investigators from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office ran the operation as part of a wider effort to catch individuals targeting minors for sexual acts. Rivera was taken into custody after showing up at a location he had agreed to during his online conversations.

According to The Nerdstash, the 24-year-old now faces four felony charges. After his arrest, he was booked into the Larimer County jail on a cash-only bond of $6,500, and a court appearance has been scheduled for May 21.

Republican leaders wasted no time condemning the charges against Rivera

Before his arrest, Rivera was an active figure in local politics. He had previously worked as a legislative aide at the state Capitol and was a member of the state GOP executive committee. The Weld County Republican Party quickly announced that it had accepted his resignation as county chair, effective immediately, and noted that 1st Vice Chair Adrienne Sandoval will take over his duties until a new chair is elected.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert described the allegations as “vile and indefensible” and called for Rivera to be replaced as county chairman right away. Colorado State Senate and House Republicans also released a joint statement on Friday, calling the charges “sickening, horrifying and beyond reprehensible.” 

This is not the first time a GOP lawmaker has faced serious internal scrutiny, as ethics investigations within the party have become increasingly visible in recent months. Interim state GOP chair Eric Grossman joined other Weld County Republican officers in calling for Rivera’s resignation, stressing that the party has a zero-tolerance policy for any crimes committed against children.

The sting operation itself was fairly large in scale. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office reported that investigators engaged with dozens of individuals who responded to online listings while posing as minors. During this specific sting, another man named Ismaaeel Abdur-Rahmaan was also arrested at the same agreed-upon location alongside Rivera.

Both men now face multiple charges connected to the investigation, which targeted individuals operating across various websites and online forums. Beyond the legal fallout, there is a broader debate about how political organizations should handle internal accountability when leaders face serious criminal accusations.

Some observers have said the incident highlights the need for greater scrutiny of people in positions of power. It also adds to a pattern of Republican lawmakers pushing questionable legislation that has drawn widespread public criticism and mockery in recent months.

As the investigation continues, attention will remain on the court date of May 21. The party is now moving toward selecting a new leader, with procedures already in place to do so. The involvement of online forums and undercover sting tactics also highlights the ongoing work by law enforcement to monitor these spaces and protect minors from potential predators.