Lynden man accused of raping girl multiple times charged in Whatcom County court
A Lynden man has been charged with five felonies related to the rape of a child.
Gabriel Tellez-Lopez, 19, was arrested Sunday after it was reported that he raped a 15-year-old girl multiple times. The girl told police that Tellez-Lopez messaged her on Instagram three weeks prior using a fake name, according to court records. She said she expressed a lack of interest, but Tellez-Lopez threatened to hurt her if she blocked him or stopped talking to him.
The teen met up with Tellez-Lopez out of this same fear, and she reported he sexually assaulted her. She said he also threatened to “do bad things to her” at least five times if she didn’t send him explicit photos of herself.
Deputies took Tellez-Lopez into custody at his Lynden residence. He initially denied knowing the girl, according to court records, before admitting that he had sex with her, though he claimed it was consensual. He also said the photos were sent to him unsolicited.
His story was overall inconsistent, court documents state, and detectives believed he wasn’t telling the entire truth.
Tellez-Lopez was charged with two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of third-degree rape of a child and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Tellez-Lopez was released from jail Tuesday after posting $3,000 cash bail. A no-contact order is in place with the victim.
Tellez-Lopez’s trial is scheduled for May 11.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 1:04 PM.