23-Year-Old Arrested After Police Find Video During Drug Bust Of Him Raping Minor

Police in Idaho arrested a man for raping a minor after finding evidence of the sexual assault on his phone. The man claimed the teen in the video was his girlfriend, since the girl involved is below the age of consent, 23-year-old Jose Armando Lopez faces charges.

Lopez, from Idaho Falls, was with the victim in his car when they were pulled over by the police. Idaho State Police pulled them over at a traffic stop as a part of a drug investigation. Questioned by the deputies, the man told them that the teenager was his girlfriend.

During the search, troopers asked for Lopez’s permission to search his phone. After he gave the police permission to search his phone they stumbled upon the incriminating video, Idaho State Journal reported. Multiple videos were found on the accused’s phone of him engaging in sexual acts with the 16-year-old girl, who remains unnamed.

In the arrest affidavit, it was stated that the victim and the accused were identified from their faces in the videos. Lopez was also identified by his tattoo which was visible in the videos. In the affidavit it was not mentioned if the sex was consensual as the age of the two individuals made it a criminal offense, Post Register reported.

As per Idaho laws, a minor cannot give consent to have sex with an adult unless their age gap is less than three years. This meant that the teen could not legally consent to engaging in sexual intercourse with Lopez, leading him to be charged with raping a minor.

If found guilty of rape, Lopez may be sentenced to a minimum of a year in prison. The maximum sentence for rape is life in prison.

Appearing in court since his arrest, Lopez was granted bail. He had to pay a $50,000 bond to be released from police custody. The court also issued a no-contact order between the victim and the accused. The teenager has filed a motion to get the no-contact order dismissed or modified so that she can get in touch with the accused.

As the trial continues, Lopez is set to return to Bonneville County Court for his next hearing on Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m.