Serial Child Molester Gets 2 Life Sentences

COBB COUNTY, GA — A Cobb County man is behind bars for the rest of his life after he was found guilty on 10 child molestation charges, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady said.

Luis Alonso Lopez was handed two consecutive life sentences June 21, the DA's office said in a news release Friday. He was found guilty on seven counts of aggravated child molestation and three counts of child molestation.

Lopez's charges stem from years of sexual abuse of his nephew, the nephew's younger cousin and another child, the release said. Lopez moved into the family's home when he came to America from El Salvador, and lived with the family for more than 10 years.

Lopez's nephew did not disclose any of the abuse until September 2019 — around his 19th birthday — when he told Cobb County Police Department investigators that Lopez molested him between the ages of 8 and 14 years old. In a forensic interview, he said Lopez used manipulation by grooming, such as buying gifts, threatening him and using intimidation to sexually abuse him.

Lopez would go so far as to cover his nephew's mouth to keep him from screaming during the abuse, the DA's office said.

During the forensic interview, Lopez's nephew revealed that his younger cousin was also molested by Lopez. The cousin said when he was around 8 years old, Lopez forced him into oral sex two different times.

"He tried to get away from Lopez by locking himself in a bathroom, but Lopez would use threats of force to make the victim come out and comply," the DA's office said in the release. "Both acts of molestation happened when the victim would visit his cousin, the other victim in the case."

It was during the investigation that officers discovered a third child, a friend to Lopez's nephew and his younger cousin, was also molested at the same residence. The child said Lopez abused him when he was around 8 years old.

“The defendant is a serial predator who took advantage of the generosity of his own family to commit these heinous crimes against at least three children," said Lindsay Raynor, senior assistant district attorney, in the release. "The courageous testimony of these victims, the hard work by law enforcement and SafePath, our trial team and Special Victims Unit and service of this jury finally held Luis Lopez accountable for the years of abuse he inflicted on innocent children. I am grateful he will never be able inflict any pain on another child again.”

If you or a loved one is experiencing sexual abuse, please contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or by visiting rainn.org. A live chat feature is available on the website if calling is not safe. The hotline and live chat are available 24/7. RAINN is the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the nation.