Brothers admit to sexual assault of child
NORRISTOWN » One week after a jury convicted their brother of child rape charges, two Lansdale men admitted they too sexually assaulted the same 11-yearold girl and a judge sent them straight to prison.
Julio Vincente LopezVanegas, 32, of the 100 block of East Mount Vernon Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to five to 10 years in a state correctional facility, to be followed by 20 years’ probation, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of rape of a child in connection with his contact with the underage girl.
Wilson Lopez-Vanegas, 33, also of the East Mount Vernon Street address, was sentenced to two to four years in state prison, to be followed by 10 years’ probation, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of statutory sexual assault.
The sentences were imposed by Judge William R. Carpenter as part of plea agreements. The judge also ordered the brothers to have no contact with the victim or her family.
Assistant District Attorney Kristen J. Kemp sought lengthy prison terms against the men.
“The importance of state prison with respect to these two offenders was in order to protect both the victim that they assaulted in this case as well as any other child that they might have access to. By imposing a significant period of incarceration, this secures the safety of future children and also punishes them for their actions toward this child,” Kemp said on Wednesday.
Last week, a jury convicted the brother of the two men, Carlos LopezVanegas, 29, also of Lansdale, of charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault of a child in connection with his contact with the 11-year-old girl.
The three brothers knew the girl’s family and the inappropriate conduct occurred while the girl was in their company at various times in Lansdale between 2015 and 2017. Testimony and court documents did not reveal if the individual brothers knew that the others were having sexual contact with the same girl. The brothers did not face conspiracy charges in connection with the incidents.
With the charges against the men, Kemp alleged they used their position of authority and trust to sexually assault the girl.
Carlos also was convicted by the jury of a charge of indecent assault in connection with contact he had with a second girl, a 5-year-old who had been in his company at various times in Lansdale.
Judge Carpenter deferred sentencing Carlos until later this year and he remains in the county jail without bail to await his sentencing hearing. Carlos faces a potential maximum sentence of 144 to 288 years in prison.
Kemp characterized the 11-year-old girl, who testified during Carlos’ trial, as “incredibly brave and strong.”
The cases against the three men were investigated by Lansdale Detective Nicholas Oropeza and Police Officer Joel Greco.
“By imposing a significant period of incarceration, this secures the safety of future children and also punishes them for their actions toward this child.” — Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kristen J. Kemp