NEW CHARGES IN SEX ASSAULT CASE

February 20, 2002

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter Jr. has filed additional charges against 50-year-old Paul Lopez in connection with his arrest Thursday, February 7, 2002 for sexual assault on a child. 

Lopez (DOB 1/15/52) was charged today with two counts of sexual assault on a child - position of trust (F3 and F4), two counts of sexual assault on a child - pattern of abuse (F3 and F4), and sexual assault on a child (F4). 

Lopez remains in custody in the Denver County Jail.  His bond is set at $100,000.  He is tentatively scheduled to appear tomorrow, February 21, 2002 in Denver County Court, room 12T at 11:00 a.m to be formally advised of the charges.

The presumptive range for sentencing on a class 3 felony is 4 to 12 years in prison; the range for a class 4 felony is 2 to 6 years.

The investigation is continuing.

*The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6