SALT LAKE CITY — The founder and CEO of Exitus, a Utah non-profit organization, will remain behind bars after a judge denied her bail following her arrest on charges of fraud, theft, and forgery.
WATCH: Anti-trafficking volunteers say Exitus CEO charges bring harm to cause
Candace Rivera appeared at a bail hearing Tuesday more than a week after her arrest. She faces a total of 32 felony charges after an investigation into the group which fights human trafficking.
“These allegations don’t appear to be a danger to anybody. No one’s physical safety is put at-risk,” argued her defense attorney, Mark Petersen.
Prosecutors with the Utah Attorney General’s Office told the judge Rivera is not to be trusted.
“It goes from stranger to friend and everything in-between. There’s no one that she hasn’t or won’t take advantage of,” said Craig Peterson.
"What I see is a pattern of criminal activity and a likelihood that she would continue to pile up additional financial crimes while out on release," said Judge Christine Johnson when announcing her decision to deny Rivera bail.
Some of those allegedly victimized by Rivera's actions were pleased with the hearing's outcome.
"Seeing her there today and the fact that her head is held low, she could not look or refused to look at any of these other people sitting with me, I can’t say that I felt a whole lot of anything other than: You are exactly where you need to be. You’ve hurt enough people and it’s time to stop," said Charlene Paul.
Since her arrest, Rivera has been in the Utah County Jail and will remain there for an undetermined period of time. During its investigation, the Utah Attorney General's Office found multiple instances of communications fraud, false statements, and embezzlement.
“We were exploited for our experiences and our stories to raise funds. Funds that I didn’t know didn’t go to the places we were telling people they were supposed to go,” said Faleshia, another victim and volunteer for Exitus.
The investigation showed that while Rivera had claimed to be a nurse, medical doctor or nurse practitioner, she never held any of those titles and was terminated from employment as a "psychiatric technician" from the University of Utah Hospital over a decade ago.
Despite not being a medical professional, the investigation claims Rivera used those credentials to rent properties and promote her standing in the community.
According to arrest documents, Exitus raised over $1.6 million since it was founded just three years ago.
