Napa County Man Convicted Of Molesting Stepdaughters: DA

NAPA, CA — A Napa man was convicted Thursday of molesting his two young stepdaughters, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced in a news release.

Jurors found Gabriel Elena Lopez, 36, guilty of nine criminal charges and eight special allegations, including forcible rape, sexual penetration by a foreign object, forcible oral copulation of a minor, two counts of forcible lewd act upon a child, three counts of lewd act upon a child, and one count of contact with a minor for a sexual offense.

The jury also found true special allegations that the defendant committed a sexual offense against multiple victims.

Napa County Superior Court Judge Scott Young presided over the eight-day jury trial.

The convictions are the result of sexual contact Lopez had with two daughters of a woman he was married to between 2011 and 2014 in Napa County. The survivors were between 7 and 16 years old at the time of the molestations, the DA's Office said.

The survivors, who are now 17 and 23 years old, both testified during the jury trial.

"There was a huge burden borne by the victims in this case," Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero said. "Due to the pandemic and other factors beyond their control, it took a significant amount of time to get to trial. When cases are delayed, especially crimes involving child sexual assault, it is the lives of the victims that are continually disrupted. I hope that the victims in this case, who showed incredible patience and bravery, can begin to put these tragic events behind them."

Napa County Deputy District Attorney Kecia Lind prosecuted the case, Napa County District Attorney Investigator Melissa Kelly assisted in the prosecution, and Sexual Assault Victim Services provided advocacy for the two survivors.

Napa Police Department Detective Todd Shulman led the investigation of Lopez which began when a family member reported the sexual abuse to someone at a Napa emergency women's shelter.

Lopez is being held without bail and faces a life sentence in California state prison. He is due back in court Aug. 20 for a sentencing hearing.