A local church pastor has been found guilty of molesting two teen girls who attended his parish in Avoca. Deputies arrested 60-year-old Cesar Lopez in 2016 and charged him with two counts of second-degree sexual assault.On April 6th 2016, officers received a tip that Lopez had molested the girls, who were ages 15 and 16, according to a warrant affidavit. The girls said Lopez would touch them inappropriately when he would hug them.One girl told police that in 2015, Lopez took her into a back room and asked her to lift her dress, and then begun to touch her inappropriately. The girl said she told a family member about the incident, and a meeting was set up with Lopez, who apologized. She told police that she had not been church since that time, and the one time she had seen him she declined to hug him.Officers attempted to contact Lopez on April 13th, but he didn't show up to a meeting. He also declined to meet with an officer on April 15th after being contacted through his attorney.A Benton County jury found Lopez guilty of Sexual Assault in the second degree. The Jury recommended a prison sentence of 15 years.

A local church pastor has been found guilty of molesting two teen girls who attended his parish in Avoca.

Deputies arrested 60-year-old Cesar Lopez in 2016 and charged him with two counts of second-degree sexual assault.


On April 6th 2016, officers received a tip that Lopez had molested the girls, who were ages 15 and 16, according to a warrant affidavit. The girls said Lopez would touch them inappropriately when he would hug them.

One girl told police that in 2015, Lopez took her into a back room and asked her to lift her dress, and then begun to touch her inappropriately. The girl said she told a family member about the incident, and a meeting was set up with Lopez, who apologized. She told police that she had not been church since that time, and the one time she had seen him she declined to hug him.



Officers attempted to contact Lopez on April 13th, but he didn't show up to a meeting. He also declined to meet with an officer on April 15th after being contacted through his attorney.

A Benton County jury found Lopez guilty of Sexual Assault in the second degree. The Jury recommended a prison sentence of 15 years.