Whatcom County convicted sexual offender suspected of molesting another preteen girl
A Whatcom County man previously convicted of molesting a preteen girl in 2005 is suspected of inappropriately touching another juvenile girl that he knew nearly 14 years later.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office booked Anthony Javier Lopez, 43, into Whatcom County Jail June 1 on suspicion of first-degree child molestation and failure to register as a sex offender. Jail records show Lopez was released later June 1 on $25,000 bail.
In an a May 19 interview with deputies, the victim reported that when she was 11 or 12 years old in the fall or winter of 2019 she and Lopez were in Lopez’s car alone, Lopez stopped the car while he was taking her home and pressured her into briefly lifting her shirt, according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents. The victim reported Lopez then forcibly grabbed and lifted her shirt and bra again and began touching her.
The victim reported feeling uncomfortable and that Lopez stopped when she pulled her shirt back down, documents state. The victim reported Lopez then resumed driving her home, but stopped before they arrived, apologized and told her not to tell.
The victim said she tried to forget about what happened and did not tell anyone until recently because she feared nobody would believe her, documents state.
Deputies spoke to Lopez on May 24 at his home in Birch Bay, and he denied the incident, documents state, but during the interview he told deputies that he had recently enrolled at Bellingham Technical College.
As a previously convicted sex offender, Lopez was required to notify the sheriff’s office of being admitted to a public college within three days of enrolling — something he had failed to do, according to documents. Deputies contacted BTC, which reported that Lopez had enrolled in 2022 spring quarter classes and that he had not registered as a sex offender with the school’s office or had a required meeting with school officials prior to enrolling.
Court records show Lopez was convicted of two counts of second-degree child molestation in 2009 and was sentenced to three years in prison. Documents in that case show Lopez twice inappropriately touched the victim and had the victim touch him when she was 12 years old when they were alone in 2005.
After deputies established probable cause in the 2019 incident, Lopez was notified that he must turn himself in by June 1, which he did and was booked without incident, according to court documents.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program/
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
