Johnny Ray Lopez - Repeat Sex Offender - Enabled by Wife

A convicted sex offender is accused of sexually abusing a disabled woman for several years.

Johnny Ray Lopez, 44, has been charged with sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor and failure to register as a sex offender. First-degree sexual assault alone is punishable by up to 99 years in prison.

The alleged abuse came to light in May when a woman became suspicious that Lopez had fondled her 6-year-old daughter at a barbecue.

Lopez’s wife was initially uncooperative in the investigation, only telling investigators that he “needs to go to jail,” according to a criminal complaint filed in court.

The disabled woman told Alaska State Troopers that Lopez began assaulting her in 2002, and that the abuse continued several times per month for years, according to the complaint.

When Lopez was confronted about the allegations in a taped conversation, he allegedly admitted to sexually assaulting the woman on two occasions and apologized. He denied that anything improper had occurred with the 6-year-old girl.

The case still is under investigation, and more charges could be forwarded to the district attorney’s office, according to troopers.

In 2001, Lopez pleaded guilty to the 1998 sexual abuse of a minor and was sentenced to 42 months in jail and three years probation, according to court records.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte