Mexican national gets nine years in prison for molesting girl, will be deported after serving sentence

A Douglas County judge ordered a 39-year-old Mexican national to serve nine years in prison for his conviction on two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Javier Luna Lopez had pleaded guilty in November to molesting a 10-year-old Lawrence girl in May.

“I want them to know that I’m very sorry for that very stupid thing I did,” Lopez said in court Tuesday morning through interpreter Oscar Marino.

Lopez has lived in Wichita and said he came to the United States to work. He had no prior criminal history.

Prosecutors and police have said the girl’s mother alleged that Lopez, her boyfriend at the time, had molested her daughter.

The girl’s mother told District Judge Kay Huff her daughter has had extreme trust issues since the incident, especially with males.

“She’s just not the same with our family any more. She’s not the same with anybody,” the woman said. “And I can only imagine what life is going to be like in the next 10 years.”

Defense attorney Sarah Swain said federal officials would deport Lopez to Mexico after he serves his prison sentence.

“I know that he is extremely remorseful for his actions in this case,” Swain said.

Huff followed a plea agreement and ordered Lopez to serve consecutive 55-month sentences, one for each count.