OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – An Osceola County judge granted a motion Friday to lower the bond amount for a man accused of playing a role in his daughter-in-law’s death.
Osceola County court records show Attorney Frank J. Bankowitz filed a motion earlier this week seeking to lower the bond for his client, Angel Luis Rivera.
Rivera faces charges of capital murder, abuse of a dead body, failure to report a death and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. His bail was previously set at $350,000. On Friday, the judge granted the motion to reduce Rivera’s bail. His new total bond amount is $170,000, which would require $17,000 to post bail.
The remains of Nicole Montalvo were found in October of 2019 near the home her estranged husband shared with his family.
Montalvo’s father-in-law, Angel Luis Rivera, was arrested on Oct. 29 on a murder charge in connection with her death. However, on Dec. 5 a judge ruled Rivera could be released from jail on that charge because the state failed to officially file the first-degree murder charge within 33 days of his arrest.
Also on Dec. 5, new charges were filed against Rivera including a felony charge of abusing a dead body and failure to report a death. During his first appearance on those new charges, Judge Wayne Wooten set Rivera’s bail at $350,000. Rivera’s attorney told News 6 the bond amount was unreasonably high for the charges.
On Dec. 27, the Fifth District Court of Appeal denied that motion to lower the bond amount.
Deputies said Montalvo was last seen dropping off her son with his father and grandparents at a home on Hixon Avenue in St. Cloud.
Investigators said Montalvo was supposed to pick her son up from school and never showed up.
The Sheriff’s Office said Montalvo’s estranged husband Christopher Otero-Rivera was on house arrest and his ankle monitor showed he was in the area where Montalvo’s remains were found.
Angel Rivera, his wife, Wanda Rivera, Otero-Rivera and Nicholas Rivera are all facing charges in the case.
Bankowitz said Angel Rivera is not a risk to the community and is not a flight risk.
The attorney said Angel Rivera will show up to all his required court appearances.