GF man accused of raping 13-year-old girl

AGreen Forest man is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond after being charged with rape based on allegations he had sex multiple times with a 13-year-old girl.

Alexander Estrada Lopez, 36, was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 2, a day after authorities were notified that the alleged victim told her older brother of the sexual encounters, which she said began in August 2024.

Lopez made his first court appearance in front of Carroll County Judge Dale Ramsey for a probable-cause hearing on Friday, Oct. 3, and was appointed a public defender. His next court appearance is set for 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in Carroll County Circuit Court in Berryville.

A probable-cause affidavit written by Casey Helmlinger, an investigator with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, said Helmlinger directed the victim’s family to Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center on Wednesday, Oct. 1, for a forensic interview and medical examination.

Because of a language barrier, Green Forest police officer Josue Rengel translated the interview for the 13-year-old, Helmlinger wrote.

“ explained that she lives with her mom, her little sister … and Alexander,” Helmlinger wrote. “ says, ‘he abuses me.’

Lopez rents a room in the victim’s home, but is not related to the family, the affidavit says.

The alleged episodes with Lopez started in August 2024, Helmlinger wrote.

“ indicates her mom is off work Wednesdays and Sundays and works the rest of the days,” the affidavit says. “ says her little sister is in school when ‘this happens’ except for the weekends when her little sister was at home. states her little sister would be asleep in her room ‘it happens’ on the weekends. says the rapes began happening after school started in the mornings.”

“ indicated her mom would leave about 0745 in the morning and Alexander would tell her to ‘come’ and the abuse would happen,” the affidavit says.

The alleged victim told authorities the first incident in 2024 happened after Lopez went to her and said: ‘Come here. I need to talk to you about something.’

“ says Alexander abused her and Alexander told her if she said anything he would hurt her little sister and her family,” Helmlinger wrote.

The report goes on to say that the alleged victim specifically described her body’s reaction to the episodes and was able to use ‘anatomical drawings’ to indicate specific examples of alleged contact, including regular episodes of intercourse.

The alleged victim was also able to draw examples of what Lopez’room looked like for investigators including specifics about his bed and bedding, the report read.

Helmlinger’s affidavit concludes by saying the alleged victim told investigators that she “started vomiting yesterday and today,” and asked her older brother for medication. Her brother, in turn, became suspicious that she was pregnant and told the alleged victim to “tell the truth.”The most recent sexual encounter with Lopez was on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the victim told authorities.

“ says she doesn’t want Alexander at home anymore because she doesn’t feel safe with him,” Helmlinger wrote.

Lopez was interviewed by investigators later in the day on Oct. 2 and denied all allegations before being arrested, according to the affidavit.