A Jersey City man has been charged with soliciting sexually explicit photos of an underage girl and then distributing them to her family members when she threatened to cut ties with him, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
David Lopez, 38, of Jersey City, is charged with manufacturing child sexual abuse materials, five counts of endangering the welfare of a child via distribution of child sexual abuse materials, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, making terroristic threats, criminal coercion, endangering the welfare of a child via possession of child sexual abuse materials, and six counts cyber harassment.
An investigation by the Keansburg Police Department that grew to also involve members of the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Lopez had made contact with the victim via social media sometime prior to August 2020, and thereafter asked her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos.
After several such exchanges, the investigation revealed, the victim indicated that she preferred to cease communications with Lopez – who responded by sending some of the photos and videos to no fewer than half a dozen of her family members, including children as young as 11.
In addition, Lopez allegedly threatened to harm the victim’s family, threatened to have other individuals harm them, threatened to burn down their house, and told her he could make her life “a living hell.”
Lopez was arrested at his home on August 25th, 2020, after which he was released on home detention and ordered to have no contact with the victim and no Internet access while the criminal case against him remained pending.
Anyone with additional information about Lopez’s activities is being asked to contact Keansburg Police Department Detective Lt. Bryan King at 732-787-0600.
Convictions on first-degree criminal charges can result in terms of 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree crimes can yield penalties of 5 to 10 years.
This case is being handled by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Lavender. Lopez is being represented by Joshua Hood, Esq., with an office in Freehold.
