Long Branch Man Charged With Sex Crimes Against 2 Children, A Girl And A Boy

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A Long Branch man was arrested and charged with committing sexual crimes against two children, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced Monday.

Raul F. Lopez, a/k/a Lee Escobar, 45, is charged with first-degree aggravated sex assault, second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree child endangerment and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

There were two victims: a girl who was under the age of 13 when the crimes against her began, occurring on numerous occasions from 2020 into 2023, and a boy who was under the age of 16 when crimes against him were committed in 2023.

Long Branch Police investigated this case. Escobar was taken into custody without incident after turning himself in to authorities at Long Branch Police Department headquarters earlier this month. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a detention hearing held on Friday, November 21, at which time Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. said he wanted him kept behind bars as his case proceeds.

Anyone with information about Escobar’s activities is urged to contact Long Branch Police Department Detective David Stone at 732-222-1000.