A Wenatchee man with a long record with the law has been found not guilty of charges back in 2021 for second-degree rape and unlawful imprisonment. The verdict was returned by a jury in Chelan County Superior Court, acquitting 26 year old David Ernesto Lopez. Charges came after Wenatchee police had accused Lopez of sexually assaulting a woman at his apartment on McKittrick Street in December of 2020. Reports say he had been drinking and consuming THC during the incident, where he was also accused of preventing the woman from leaving the apartment by blocking the door.
After the jury's verdict, Lopez was released from his bail bond on Monday and his pre-trial non-contact order was cancelled. According to court records, Lopez had a history of failing to appear for court hearings back to 2018 for charges that included DUI , driving with a suspended license, and the violation of a no contact order.
Law enforcement agencies utilized Facebook to alert the public they were looking for Lopez in February 2021 and less than a week later announced his arrest on charges of 2nd degree rape, unlawful imprisonment, 1st degree negligent driving, obstructing a public servant, 2nd degree driving with a suspended license, and violating a no contact order.
Court documents show Lopez was released from jail around 10 months after his arrest on bail of $75,000.