Accused Benton County child molester in country illegally, ICE says

by Thomas YazwinskiTuesday, November 26th 2019

BENTON COUNTY, Wash. -- Benton County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Victor Martin Lara-Lopez, 36, for suspicion of child molestation after a girl claims his hand went under her pants while tickling her.

The investigation began on November 22. Authorities interviewed the alleged victim after she told her mother.

According to court documents, the alleged victim told authorities that Lara-Lopez carried her to a couch, sat her down on his lap and began to tickle her. While tickling her, the victim claims Lara-Lopez reached into her pants and touched her inappropriately.

The victim then alleges that Lara-Lopez acted as if the incident never occurred.

Deputies also spoke with the victim's mother. According to probable cause documents, she told police that Lara-Lopez was in the country illegally and was a flight risk for that reason.

Deputies went to Lara-Lopez's home and made contact with him. According to court documents, Lara-Lopez initially refused to cooperate with the investigation but eventually turned himself into authorities.

Detectives tried to interview Lara-Lopez but claim he refused to speak with them.

Action News has reached out to officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine if Lara-Lopez is illegally in the country.

Tanya Roman, a spokesperson for ICE said, “Victor Martin Lara-Lopez is a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally. On Nov. 25, 2019, ICE learned of Lara-Lopez’s arrest for child molestation and issued a detainer with the Benton County Jail.”

Lara-Lopez has been booked into the Benton County Jail for suspicion of 2nd Degree Child Molestation.

https://keprtv.com/news/local/suspec...on-county-girl