Spartanburg man allegedly sexually abused 9-year-old for two years

SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) – The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said a man has been charged with sexually abusing a child over a period of two years.

According to the sheriff’s office, officers were called to a home on Old Greenville Road on May 4 for a sexual assault.

Upon arrival, officers said the 9-year-old victim’s mother and the suspect went to get some food together. The mother went inside, but when she quickly returned without warning, the victim was visibly disturbed. The victim told her mother that the suspect had touched her genitals.

Officials said the victim was taken to the hospital and evaluated, at which point the victim told a nurse about ongoing sexual abuse that had been going on since the age of seven.

After further investigations and a forensic examination which confirmed the revelations, arrest warrants were issued.

Officials said the suspect, 39-year-old Melbin Samuel Castro Lopez, was charged Wednesday with first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Because of the first-degree charge, Castro Lopez will remain in custody and will have to appear before a district judge to set bail, according to the sheriff’s office.

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