Raul Lopez pleads no contest to indecency charge; judge imposes eight-year sentence and records immigration consequences

Raul Lopez appeared with an interpreter, waived jury trial and entered a no-contest plea to an indecency-with-a-child charge on count 4. The court accepted the state's stipulations and, after an on-the-record colloquy and review of exhibits, sentenced Lopez to eight years in prison, imposed a $1,500 fine, entered an affirmative finding of family violence, required chapter-62 offender registration and ordered no contact with the complainant and no residency in homes with minors.

The judge explicitly confirmed that defense counsel had reviewed discovery and that Lopez understood the plea admonishments. Because Lopez is not a U.S. citizen, the court required counsel to discuss immigration consequences; the record reflects that Lopez was informed he would be deported and would forfeit certain immigration rights as a result of the plea. The court also noted a prohibition on reentry into the United States as a collateral consequence.

State exhibits were accepted in lieu of live testimony, and the court found sufficient evidence to support the plea. The judge placed the trial-court certification of defendant's rights to appeal on the record and advised Lopez of weapons-possession prohibitions attached to felony convictions. The sentence includes a directive that the defendant not reside with minors and not have contact with minors or the complainant.