Police arrested 32-year-old Luis Adalberto Veliz-Lopez, after a woman told officers about the sexual assaults that began when she was just 14.
SAN ANTONIO — According to arrest warrants, 32-year-old Luis Adalberto Veliz-Lopez is now facing four counts of sexual assault of a child.
Police arrested Veliz-Lopez, after a woman reportedly told officers about the sexual assaults that began when she was just 14.
According to the arrest warrants, the victim met Veliz-Lopez through Instagram when he was 22 and she was just 13.
Police say the victim asked Veliz-Lopez if he was okay with having a relationship with her because of her age. The warrant says Veliz-Lopez responded: “Age is just a number.”
Shortly after turning 14, the victim says they began a sexual relationship, where Veliz-Lopez would pretend to be the victim’s uncle and sign her out of school. Veliz-Lopez would allegedly take her to his home where the two would have sex.
Police say the victim had a baby, when she was 16, too young to consent. Then police says she got pregnant again, while she was still 16.
Officers say Veliz-Lopez took photos and video of the sexual encounters and sent the victim screenshots during a custody dispute.
The victim claims Veliz-Lopez threatened to release the photos and video and also threatened to kill or hurt her. She also claims Veliz-Lopez threatened to take the kids to Canada or his native Guatemala.
Lori Wittmeyer with Search & Support San Antonio says she’s not surprised Veliz-Lopez met his victim though social media.
“I think a lot of times parents they feel that their child is in the next room or even on the sofa with them that they’re safe, because they know where they are. If they’re online, they are not safe at all because any time they’re online, predators have access to their children,” said Wittmeyer.
Predators will often prey on children’s vulnerability, according to Wittmeyer.
“They’re looking for love, acceptance, all that type of things. Sometimes these older adults give that to them and then they build a relationship and a grooming process begins,” said Wittmeyer.
Wittmeyer says parents need to be vigilant in monitoring their child’s social media activity and educate your children on what is appropriate behavior.
“It’s not because you don’t trust the child, it’s because you know there are people out there, that you cannot trust,” said Wittmeyer.
She also says it’s never to late to come forward to report these types of crimes.
Veliz-Lopez is currently in the Bexar County Jail, with an immigration hold, for entering the country illegally.