An illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was twice deported from the United States was indicted this week on more than 20 counts of sexual abuse and sex crimes against minors while working as a church teacher in Maryland.
Irvin Giovani Alfaro Lopez, 33, was arrested Monday by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on charges including sexual abuse of a minor.
The incidents allegedly occurred between 2016 and 2018 at Derwood Church in the 15700 block of Crabbs Branch Way in Montgomery County. The victims were between 6 and 12 years old at the time, according to the Montgomery County Circuit Court lawsuit. He is also charged with second-degree rape and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the incident.
Police began an investigation in May after the victim came forward. After the initial charges, three more victims came forward in September and January to report being sexually abused by Alfaro-Lopez at the same church.
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Irvin Giovani Alfaro Lopez, 33, was arrested Monday by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on charges including sexual abuse of a minor. (Montgomery Police Department)
One of the victims was the daughter of the church pastor. Fox 5 DC reported.
The father of one of the victims told investigators that he spoke with the pastor and believed that “the incident was handled within the church,” adding that his daughter said Alfaro López “got into trouble and was no longer allowed to teach. ” he stated to the investigation. ” reports Fox 5.
Victims reported that the abuse often occurred while the students were praying with their eyes closed, and that Mr. Alfaro-Lopez touched them both above and below their clothes.
Montgomery County Police Department vehicle. (Montgomery County Police Department)
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Alfaro-Lopez is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Detention Center.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) moved this week to deport Mr. Alfaro-Lopez if he is released. According to the agency, he entered the country illegally at least three times and has been subject to two deportation orders.
Fox 5 reported, citing ICE, that Alfaro-Lopez was first arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near Lake Charles, Louisiana in March 2015 after entering the U.S. illegally and then removed in September 2018. .
Alfaro-Lopez was rearrested in the United States in January 2019, allowed to leave the country voluntarily, and departed in April 2019.
Migrants cross the Rio Grande River from Mexico into the United States on September 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. In March 2020, Alfaro-Lopez was arrested by Border Patrol agents in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. (John Moore/Getty Images)
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But in March 2020, Alfaro-Lopez was arrested by Border Patrol agents in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley after entering the country illegally. U.S. Border Patrol quickly processed him for deportation, and he was deported in March 2020.
It is unclear when Alfaro-Lopez re-entered the United States, but he was arrested by Montgomery County police in August and charged with second-degree rape and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to ICE.
An immigration warrant was issued for Alfaro-Lopez that same day, but according to ICE, the Montgomery County Detention Center refused to comply with the order and Alfaro-Lopez was released from custody on August 11, 2023. It was done.
