On Wednesday, Henrico County Judge Daniel T. Balfour sentenced convicted rapist, Arturo F. Lopez, 18, to 50 years in prison, but suspended 20 of those years. Due to the grievous nature of the illegal alien’s crime, Judge Balfour actually went beyond the sentencing guidelines which ranged from nine years and 10 months to 21 years and one month for abduction and rape convictions.
Lopez, who took a bus to Richmond, after entering the country illegally last year, was placed with a foster couple after he was found wandering the streets, homeless.
On April 9, just five days after his 18th birthday, Lopez attacked his 55-year-old foster mom in the living room of the family home, as her husband slept upstairs. He brutalized the woman and raped her at knife point.
The victim was able to escape, by convincing Lopez that she had to get to work. Once out of the house, she immediately called police, along with her pastor.
During Lopez’ trial, Henrico Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Robert M. Wood explained how the woman’s life had been destroyed by the savage attack.
The victim her self, told the jury of her pain, and how she can longer trust anyone, ending her long service as a foster mother, saying: “I don't have it in me emotionally to move over for someone else.”
At the time of his arrest, the Mexican national told detectives he simply walked across the border and took a bus to Richmond, Va.
*Reporter’s note: Not only has this woman become yet another victim of illegal immigration, but so have too, a great many struggling children…children who have been robbed of the love and guidance she can simply no longer give because of this brutal ordeal.
Comments
How could they do this poor Lopez? Isn't he the "backbone of America"?
Dave, how dare you report the facts so audaciously. PC101 dictates that the media excuse the actions of the perpetrator and place the blame on the victims or better yet, not report on the crime. Shame on you for adhering to higher journalistic standards.
Calderon will condemn the US for this....and the Congressional Dems will stand and applaud.
There must be some mistake ... Lopez only came here to work hard and make a better life for himself. Just another example of the USA scapegoating "immigrants"! (wink, wink)
I wonder where Geraldo Rivera would stand on this.
I guess that raping fifty-five year old women counts as a job that Americans just won't do anymore.
Please tell me why he wasn't deported immediately instead of being placed in a foster home.
He wasn't immediately deported because we are no longer merely stupid---we have entered into the next stage of devolution; insanity. When we can no longer act in our own self interest it's just a matter of time until we're compost. When you're merely stupid, you fail to appreciate the priceless value of the USA. When you are insane you do what the Leftists do; you work vigorously to destroy it.
....and violate his rights as an illegal alien...? Surely you jest. With enough time, patience, taxpayer money, and yes, love, this young criminal, I mean 'victim', can become a productive voter....
That was my first question too, Obvioulsy there was a "language" barrier at first, dah! But as we know, local authorities are not entitled to report illegal aliens to the federals, that's why there are so many walking around freely around the country. They are not afraid to be deported!!! The US became the paradise land for illegals!! Bealive me, if you are illegaly in Mexico, you will be afraid. I am from Mexico and I know better (Note: I am a US Citizen and I came here LEGALLY!!)
This is not an illegal alien issue. This is an issue of crime. There are more than enough brutal crimes by US citizens, is viewed as a matter of their citizenship status? I think not. There are criminals in every group of people.
Thank you for that statement. It solidifies my resolve never to take anything a lunatic liberal has to say seriously.
"This is not an illegal alien issue" Holy crap, what is it ? a greyhound issue ? he did take a bus to Richmond.
I agree with you. Lopez should be freed to your custody. He should live in your home and have access to you and your children.
It's an illegal alien issue because the border isn't secure. With a secure border, this illegal resident would not have entered the country. Had he not entered the country, he would have been denied the opportunity to rape.
I do agree, we have our own criminals, so we don't need to let more of them cross the border.
I guess those of us who would like to actually see our laws enforced are guilty of being "racists" (see: Arizona Immigration Law). Why in the world do we not deport? 25% of the violent criminals in border states like Arizona are here illegally. Mexico has become a violent nation. Many of their citizens have become violent as a result of learned behavior. So, we decide to reward them with foster homes, food, free medical care, college tuition, etc.
Anonymous 70 is missing the point. This IS an illegal alien issue. A high percentage commit violent crimes. Time to build a huge fence and ENFORCE OUR LAWS before more of our citizens are brutalized.
Know what!?! I'm gonna spew. Why do these raping, stealing, murdering illegals always look like apes?!? Im sick of them. Sick of their ugly hateful faces. Sick of their whiney gimme gimme gimme attitudes and sick of their constant play on the race card. I'm sick of paying for their sorry asses over and over again. Most of all Im sick of this POS govt that caters to them and allows this to happen! I'm sick of Americans bending over and taking this crap off a bunch of third worlders like we deserve it. Grow a freakin backbone! Stand up and fight for this country! I'm as angry right now as I'd be if this was my own mother. This madness has got to stop!
Welcome to my world . Like an invading army you are now seeing only the shock troops. Soon they'll fill up your hospitals and schools . One party will see them as cheap labor { they sleep 20 to 30 in a 3 bedroom
house] the other party will see them as a new under class needing all of your tax dollars. Don't let them
call you racist . Being a Mexican is not a race. They are the same as us, a little Indian, Irish, German ,
French, Asian, African , and Spain. Like us they know a sucker when they see one. The large Rich Fat fool
to the North who"s Leaders are always standing on the large Open Border Ringing the Dinner Bell Shouting Come and get it ! Demand that your Leaders Close the Border!! Its mean but send them back to that hell hole of a Country they came from. I was raised in America now I live in Northern Mexico. My poor State is Doomed and Damned . Don't let these happen to yours...
Anyone who thinks that most Hispanics are violent criminals has never met them. You are speaking about something that you know nothing about. I personally know many, many of them. As I speak fluent Spanish I have been blessed to have been able to get to know them, and know that they are hard working, family oriented people. I know several families, the parents work hard and do very well here. Their children are US citizens and they are some of the nicest, sweetest people you will ever meet. I know young men, who came here at 18 and worked harder than most US citizens I know. Where I live, I see so many citizens who sit back and collect welfare and don't even try to work. The Hispanics work hard, and no, they don't take American's jobs. They take the jobs that many Americans won't take. Granted most of my hispanic friends are Honduran and Guatemalan, I know several Mexicans as well, and they are all great people. There are criminals in every race, it isn't a race issue. For all of you who think you are better than others, you're not. And you think you are better because you were born here? Yeah you didn't have to work for it, you're lucky. And you look down on those who have to work for what you've been given by birth? Oh and by the way, I'm US citizen by birth.. And I'm half Native American, so my family was here before most of yours, who immigrated here from Europe. ;)
I will grant that many would be law abiding productive citizens, of course, the first thing they do is break the law by entering the U.S. illegally. There is a process. They provide the Cartels with a huge amount of money, by paying anywhere from $50, to thousands to enter the U.S. illegally.
The gov't of the U.S. has set a standard to enter the country. When someone violates that standard, no matter the reason, they are a criminal, and should be treated as such.
We have states with huge deficits because the tax base is undermined by those who enter the country, work for cash and access the public dole. They drive the highways with little or no insurance, and possibly without licenses. Some, only some, are criminals in their home countries, and have fled there to either avoid punishment, of their criminal justice systems, or of a less standardized system.
Why should we continue to allow this. This story doesn't show if this person was a criminal of the country he left. Now we'll support him for the next 50 years at a cost of (now) $26,000.00 per year. It doesn't quite seem right.
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