Salinas day care provider’s son pleads no contest to child sex abuse
UPDATE: 9/24/2018 11:26 a.m. A Salinas day care provider’s son has pleaded no contest to sexual abuse of a minor back in 2013.
According to the Salinas Police Department, 23-year-old Jairo Lopez admitted to the sexual assault of a child at a Salinas day care center operated by his mother on the 100 block of Valencia Street. The incidents date back to 2012 and include victims under 14-years-old.
“The investigation also uncovered a second victim who was sexually abused by Lopez sometime in 2008 when he was under the age of 18,” the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said.
On Nov. 6, Lopez will be sentenced to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for a term of eight years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
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The son of a licensed day care provider is in jail facing numerous charges of child sex abuse. According to Salinas police, Jairo Lopez, 21, admitted to the sexual assault of a child at a Salinas daycare center operated by his mother on the 100 block of Valencia Street. The incidents date back to 2012.
“That’s wow, I don’t know, I’m speechless you know,” said Lopez’s neighbor, Jesus Perez.
Lopez was 18-years-old when it happened.
“They’re a really good family,” said Perez. “They’re good friends of ours and I would never see Jairo doing any of that.”
Police say they fear and it is believed that there could possibly be more victims from the daycare.
According to state records, the Lopez family daycare has been licensed for nearly 20 years. The department of social services told KION in 2012 the daycare received two minor citations.
“Sometimes once a year licensing will come and do a visit, an unexpected visit,” said Eulalai Bocanegra with the Monterey County Child Care Resource. “They will go over the house and they’ll go over the children’s files.”
Officials said getting a license is a thorough process, which includes an orientation, inspections of the home and background checks on everyone 18 and over that are living, volunteering or helping in the home.
“You can never be too safe when it comes to children,” said Bocanegra “The Department of Justice wants to make sure everybody has a background check.”
We reached out to the Lopez family day care, they did not respond.
Social services told KION Lopez is not allowed at the home, until the investigation is over.
Lopez is being held at the Monterey County Jail on a $600,000 bail.
Anyone with information regarding Lopez or victim information is encouraged to contact the Salinas Police Department Investigations Division at (831) 758-7226; or Detective Gonzalez at (831) 758-7127 or gabrielg@ci.salinas.ca.us. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at (831) 775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME, or text information to the Text Tip Line with the code “SPD831” to “847411”.
