Grand Island man pleads not guilty in 2016 child abuse death

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A Grand Island man charged in the death of a baby nearly six years ago has pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse.

Ryan Rivera-Meister, 26, was extradited from Guatemala in March where he had fled to avoid a charge of felony intentional child abuse resulting in death.

On Tuesday he pleaded not guilty to the charge in Hall County District Court. A judge set his next hearing date for July 21.

He’s in the Hall County Detention Center on $2 million bond.

Rivera-Meister is wanted for the August 2016 death of 16-month-old Xavier Ruiz-Alvarado. Court records indicate the child, who Rivera-Meister had been watching for his girlfriend, died from head and stomach wounds consistent with blunt force.

The max penalty for a conviction on felony child abuse charge is life in prison.

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