Police Seek Additional Victims of Alleged Child Molester

(Image via Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office)

HERCULES-Detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Investigation Division are continuing to investigate the child molestation case involving 34-year-old Gabriel Lopez, a resident of Pinole, and now believe there may be additional victims.

The investigation is into allegations of molestation of two female juveniles, both of whom were participants at the Valley Bible Church Student Ministry in Hercules. The girls were at one time students of the John Swett Unified School District.

According to the sheriff’s office, Lopez had been employed as an “at will” employee at the Valley Bible Church where he was a youth pastor from July 2011 to March 2015. He also worked as a “walk on” volunteer football coach at John Swett High School.

The allegation was first reported to the Sheriff in September 2015. After a two month investigation, the District Attorney’s Office filed six felony counts of child molestation against Lopez.

On December 10, 2015, an arrest warrant was issued and Lopez was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. He is currently being held in lieu of $520,000 bail.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims of Lopez. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2654.

For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.