Visalia man convicted of child molestation

A Tulare County jury Tuesday found Alex Lopez, 75, of Visalia, guilty of 22 counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14. The jury also found true the special allegations of substantial sexual conduct and that each crime involved multiple victims. Each count is a felony.

The crimes began in July of 1993 and continued until approximately May of 2009 against five victims. One crime occurred between July 16, 1993 and July 15, 1995 against a female victim, who was between 9- and 10-years-old at the time of the sexual assault. Two of the crimes occurred between January 4, 1996 and January 3, 1998 against a female victim, who was between 6- and 7-years-old at the time of the sexual assaults.

Eleven of the crimes occurred between January 18, 1995 and January 17, 2000 against a female victim, who was between 4- and 8-yearsold at the time of the sexual assaults. Seven of the crimes occurred between May 5, 2001 and May 4, 2008 against a female victim, who was between 4-and 10-years old at the time of the sexual assaults.

The last crime occurred between May 20, 2005 and May 19, 2009 against a male victim who was between 3- and 6-years-old at the time of the sexual assault. Twenty-one of the crimes involved substantial sexual conduct.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 28 in Superior Court where Lopez faces 330 years to life in state prison. Lopez will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.