A Brazos County District Court jury issued a guilty verdict in the trial of a Rockdale man accused of sexually assaulting a nine year old girl over three years ago. The jury then sentenced 45 year old Richard Lopez to 35 years in prison. That’s five years more than the recommendation made by prosecutors.
Because it was his first felony conviction, Lopez could have been given probation or sent away for as long as 99 years. The earliest Lopez could be released on parole is the year 2027, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court records, Lopez was staying at a friend’s house in western Brazos County in May 2007 when the contact took place. The victim told her mother, who in turn contacted the sheriff’s department. A deputy interviewed Lopez but he was not arrested. An arrest warrant was issued two weeks later but Lopez was not found for two years, when he was picked up in Austin.