WORTHINGTON — A Worthington Police Department detective responded Friday morning to a call from Nobles County Community Services regarding a minor who had just given birth after not previously being aware that she was pregnant and reported sexual intercourse on multiple occasions with a male relation.
The victim named the baby's father as Edin Cax Lopez, 21. Cax Lopez had signed the birth certificate as the father of the baby.
After his arrest, Cax Lopez told law enforcement he didn't understand why he was being arrested because the victim had had intercourse with him voluntarily. (In Minnesota, the legal age of consent is 16.) He allegedly admitted that he had known the victim was school-aged, but claimed he did not know exactly how old she was.
Both the victim and Cax Lopez provided DNA samples for evidence.
Cax Lopez was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The maximum possible sentence Cax Lopez could receive is 30 years in prison and/or up to a $40,000 fine. He is being held in Nobles County Jail on bail set at $15,000 with conditions and $30,000 with no conditions.
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The Southwest Crisis Center is available in our community to support and empower survivors of sexual and domestic violence. For questions about services or how you can help, contact the Southwest Crisis Center at 800-376-4311 or mnswcc.org .
