Crime & Safety

Local 'Teen Mom' Dad Faces Drug Charges in New Jersey

Jonathan Rivera and his brother were both charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Two days before “Teen Mom” star Kailyn Lowry, 18, was involved in a  in Lower Nazareth Township, her son’s father, Jonathan Rivera, 19, was arrested in Lopatcong Township, N.J., for allegedly being under the influence of marijuana.

According to police, a 2002 Honda Civic driven by Edward Rivera, 23, who is Jonathan’s brother, was pulled over on Route 22 on Feb. 13 at 11:29pm, after an officer noticed sparks coming from the vehicle’s undercarriage.

After it was discovered that Edward’s Pennsylvania driver’s license was suspended, the officer asked the Palmer Township brothers to exit the vehicle. Immediately, the two responding officers detected a strong odor of marijuana, according to a police report.

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Jonathan Rivera, police say, admitted that he and his brother went out to dinner for a friend’s birthday, and both had smoked marijuana in the parking lot before heading home.

Police searched the car and discovered a Ziploc bag which had a small amount of marijuana residue on it, according to police. A hollowed out black pen casing, with both ends burnt, was also allegedly found inside the glove compartment.

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Jonathan was charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Edward Rivera failed a field a sobriety test, police say, and was charged with DUI, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, driving with a suspended license and driving an unsafe vehicle.

The brothers were released from the Lopatcong Township Police Department pending a court date. 

Editor's Note: “Teen Mom” is a reality television series on MTV that chronicles the lives of teenagers who appeared on the MTV program “16 and Pregnant.” The show follows the young moms as they navigate their way through the first year of parenthood. Jonathan Rivera is the father of Lowry’s son Isaac, 1.


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