LYNN — A local evangelical pastor was released on $25,000 cash bail after police said the man sexually assaulted five children under the age of 9 and also raped one of the children between 2004 and 2008.
“The children all discussed being touched by (the defendant) both above and below their clothing,” Lynn Police Officer John Marr wrote in a police report. “The children were concerned and angry that they were taken advantage of by (the defendant) and they were afraid that he may be abusing more children with his role as a pastor at the church.”
Daniel Lopez, 52, of 26 Minot St. #1, was arrested on a warrant and charged with rape of a child with force; and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, seven counts; at 2:33 p.m. Monday.
“He absolutely maintains his innocence and absolutely denies these allegations,” Defense Attorney Marc Salinas said in Lynn District Court Tuesday, entering a not guilty plea for his client.
Lopez is a pastor of the Vida Real Internacional Congregation at 84 Essex St., according to police. Police spokesperson Lt. Christopher Kelly described the church as an evangelical church.
Assistant District Attorney Aimee Conway said a set of parents came to Lynn Police in March and said Lopez had assaulted five of their children during the time Lopez — whom the families called an “uncle” but said was not a blood relative — would visit the families at their Lynn home between 2004 and 2008.
Conway said the children told their parents two years ago that Lopez had previously sexually assaulted them. But Conway said the parents dismissed the allegations due to the children’s young ages and the way in which the parents were told.
But Conway said the parents held a family meeting with all of the children this March after one of the alleged victims repeated the allegation against Lopez.
“(An alleged victim) asked to go over to a friend’s house and his mother told him he could not go as she did not know the family he was going to see,” Marr reported. (The alleged victim’s) response was ‘what’s the difference, when Daniel Lopez came over he touched us.’”
Conway detailed the allegations of each of the alleged victims — two boys and two girls who each reported the incidents occurred while they were between the ages of 5 and 8 years old.
“Each revealed (Lopez) touched them inappropriately in a manner that was sexual in nature,” Conway said in summation.
At least four of the alleged victims said the assaults occurred more than once, according to Conway. One of the victims told police Lopez would rape him “and that it hurt,” Conway said.
Conway requested $25,000 cash bail, that Lopez stay away and have no contact with the alleged victims and witnesses, and that Lopez have no unsupervised contact with children under 16.
Salinas questioned the allegations.
“From my review of the police reports, it’s somewhat vague on the specific dates these might have happened and who might have been present,” Salinas said. He added that Lopez had no criminal record or even been previously accused of a crime.
Salinas said Lopez was a resident alien who had been pastor of a church in Lynn for four years and previously been involved in another local church.
But Salinas acknowledged the allegations “were of the most serious the court sees.” He requested that Lopez be released on $5,000 cash bail — saying the family said they could not afford more than this and bail exceeding the request “would be tantamount to holding him without bail.” He suggested Lopez be monitored with a GPS bracelet and surrender his passport.
Judge Matthew Machera ordered $25,000 cash bail. He set conditions of release including that Lopez surrender his passport, be monitored by a GPS unit, stay away and have no contact with the alleged victims or witnesses and have no unsupervised contact with children under 16.
Lopez’ daughter declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Lopez posted bail later that afternoon.
Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].
