Man charged with kidnapping, sexually molesting 3-year-old girl
A Boyle Heights handyman was charged Tuesday with kidnapping a 3-year-old girl from a party over the weekend and sexually molesting her.
Edward Lopez, 55, allegedly took the toddler from a party at about 11 p.m. Saturday and was found naked “in a locked shed with the child several hours later,” according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Lopez was charged with one count of oral copulation of a child under 10, one count of kidnapping to commit a lewd act on a child and one count of lewd act on a child, according to prosecutors.
The district attorney’s office and local media reported that the toddler’s mother noticed she was missing from the party. The girl was playing in the front yard of the home in the 3200 block of Malabar Street when she disappeared, KTLA-TV reported.
About three hours later, police went to a garage across the street and found a man sitting on a couch naked with the girl partially clothed, CBS Los Angeles reported. The man was known as the neighborhood’s handyman.
ALSO:
Scientists visit L.A. to discuss list of buildings at risk in quake
Man killed in rooftop shooting was carjacking suspect, police say
Kurt Caselli, off-road motorcycle champ, dies during race in Mexico
Twitter: @aribloomekatz | Facebook
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
