Illinois mental health counselor Cori L. Rivelli sentenced to 3.5 years prison for sex with teen

August 25, 2010

A former therapist from Libertyville was sentenced to 3½ years in prison Friday after she admitted having sex with a 14-year-old client.

Once she is released from custody, Cori Lynn Rivelli, 27, will be on probation for 30 months and will be required to complete sex offender counseling.

Rivelli, of the 800 block of Milwaukee Avenue, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse during a hearing before Associate Judge Christopher Stride.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Rivelli was a counselor at Kids Hope United in Lake Villa and was counseling the boy last year.

The two engaged in sex acts at Rivelli's apartment, at the Lake Villa facility and when Rivelli drove the boy to Peoria to visit his parents.

The activity came to light when another Kids Hope counselor heard the boy telling another resident about the relationship and called police.

After learning she was under investigation, police said, Rivelli removed a bed from her house to prevent it from being examined for evidence.

Rivelli was originally charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse and faced a mandatory prison sentence of four to 15 years if convicted.

Stanton said she agreed to reduce the more serious charge to attempted criminal sexual assault in exchange for Rivelli's guilty plea.

Rivelli will also have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of her life as a result of the conviction.

Source: Tony Gordon, “Former therapist gets prison, probation for sex abuse,” Daily Herald, August 20, 2010.