Joshua Rivera

A Butler man charged with striking and killing a 15-year-old while the boy was riding an electric bicycle may plead guilty at 4 p.m. Nov. 12 hearing, according to an order from the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

Joshua Rivera, 41, has been held in the Butler County Jail since the 2023 incident. He faces charges of aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or injury while not licensed, accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle or property, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and failure to notify police of an accident.

The trial has been postponed multiple times. Court records now show jury selection is scheduled for Nov. 16 and 17, and the trial is scheduled for Nov. 18-25.

According to the original police report, the incident happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, on Dutchtown Road near the intersection of Sugar Creek Drive.

A witness told police that a white sedan traveling at a high rate of speed struck 15-year-old Aiden Lutz's bicycle from behind, sending him flying. Rivera was later identified as the driver of the sedan. Lutz later died from his injuries.

According to court documents, Rivera has several prior arrests dating to 2004 for offenses including burglary, theft, aggravated assault and DUI. He was charged with DUI in December 2021 and again in February of this year in connection with a traffic stop in December 2022. He also had a suspended license as of Oct. 14, 2023.

Efforts to reach public defender Joseph Smith for comment have been unsuccessful.