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Benefit recipient sentenced

By Carey Phillips
A man who was the focus of community fund-raisers to help defray his medical expenses last year was sentenced to at least 12 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday in Jackson County Superior Court to a charge of molesting a child.

Christopher James Lopez, 44, of Old Settlement Road, Sylva, entered the guilty plea to one count of first-degree sexual offense with a child. Judge James Baker sentenced him to not less than 144 nor more than 182 months. Lopez was ordered to undergo psychiatric and psychological counseling and was given credit for 28 days served.

The incident involved Lopez's 9-year-old grandson, according to court officials.

Sheriff Jimmy Ashe said prior to the guilty plea that more charges against Lopez could be forthcoming. The sheriff said as many as 30 alleged incidents involving the child occurred between September 2000 and July 2002.

Lopez was taken into custody last month in Atlanta upon his release from Emory Hospital, where he was recovering from transplant surgery. Less than a year ago, several events were held to help Lopez raise $6,600 to be placed on a waiting list at Emory for a kidney-pancreas transplant.

Back to Archive: 02/20/03.