(LifeSiteNews) — Hunter Rivera, a 22-year-old who served as the chair of the Weld County, Colorado Republicans, resigned last week after being arrested during a police sex sting operation after he allegedly attempted to pay for sex with a minor.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s office announced May 15 that two individuals, including Rivera, had been arrested and charged the previous day after responding to a listing created by investigators posing as minors selling sexual acts in a sting operation targeting predators. Rivera, whose 2025 bid for Weld County Republican chair was notably backed by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado’s fourth district, and the other man not only responded to the listings but arrived at the agreed-upon location to pay for sex with a “minor” and was promptly charged.
A day after the sheriff’s announcement, Rivera resigned as the chair of the Weld County GOP.
“Children are not property to be bought or sold,” Sheriff John Feyen said in the department’s statement. “Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and we won’t tolerate it in Larimer County. I hope this operation sends a strong message. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you try to hurt kids in our community, you will be held accountable.”
Rivera faces felony charges of soliciting a child prostitute, internet luring of a child, attempted sexual assault of a child, and cybercrime-soliciting to arrange a minor prostitute.
The Weld County Republican Party quickly denounced Rivera’s alleged actions and called for his resignation as chair in a May 15 statement.
“We are aware of the arrest of Weld County Republican Party Chair Hunter Rivera by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office on charges related to an operation targeting child predators,” the organization wrote on X. “These charges are sickening, horrifying, and beyond reprehensible. Anyone who preys on children deserves no defense, no excuses, and no place anywhere near public life or our party.”
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“The seriousness of these charges are utterly incompatible with continued service as Chair of the Weld County Republican Party,” it added. “We are calling for the immediate revocation of his position as Weld County Republican Party Chair.”
Statement from Weld County Elected Republican Representatives
We are aware of the arrest of Weld County Republican Party Chair Hunter Rivera by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office on charges related to an operation targeting child predators.
These charges are sickening,…
— Weld County Republican Party (@WeldCOGOP) May 16, 2026
The next day, the Weld County GOP issued another statement announcing that it had received and accepted Rivera’s resignation as party chair.
Before Rivera’s resignation, Boebert, who represents a large portion of Weld County and endorsed Rivera’s bid for the GOP’s county chair in 2025, also called on him to resign in an X post. The congresswoman urged the Weld County GOP to remove him immediately to “send a message.”
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“Hunter Rivera’s position as Weld County Chair must be replaced immediately. We have zero tolerance in the Republican Party for anyone involved in these horrific crimes against children,” she wrote. “The Weld County GOP needs to act right now to remove him and send a clear message: our party protects kids and upholds integrity. No excuses. No delays.”
These allegations are vile and indefensible. I pray to God there are not real victims out there. I am angry and disgusted.
Hunter Rivera’s position as Weld County Chair must be replaced immediately.
We have zero tolerance in the Republican Party for anyone involved in these… https://t.co/P9pM07Gb8w
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 16, 2026
Rivera previously served as chair of the Northern Colorado Young Republicans, worked on several Republican candidates’ campaigns, and ran unsuccessfully for Windsor’s town board in 2022.