Previously deported illegal immigrant working as teacher arrested for sexual abuse of at least three children

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD - Ervin Jeovany Alfaro Lopez, a 33-year-old Maryland teacher, has been accused of sexually abusing at least three minors between the ages of six and 12 years old. Authorities revealed that he is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and had been previously deported.

Lopez, who had been teaching at the Elim Gaithersburg Church in Maryland, faces charges including sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sex offense, and third-degree sex offense.

According to court documents, Lopez allegedly committed the abuse between 2016 and 2018, often taking advantage of moments when his students' eyes were closed for prayer or during movie sessions. He reportedly admitted to inappropriate behavior with one girl to his pastor, claiming the issue had been "dealt with internally."

Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Lopez's illegal immigrant status and his previous deportation in 2015. Despite being ordered to leave the US in 2018, Lopez was arrested again in 2019, leading to his voluntary departure from the country. However, he re-entered the US illegally and was apprehended once more in 2020, resulting in deportation back to El Salvador.

In an ICE statement, the agency said, "He was arrested by US Border Patrol (USBP) in near Lake Charles, Louisiana, on March 23, 2015, after having unlawfully entered the United States and was issued a Notice to Appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. Alfaro Lopez was released on $7,500.00 bond on April 1, 2015, and ordered to report to the [Enforcement and Removal Operations] Baltimore field office."

On Sept. 26, 2018, an immigration judge in Baltimore ordered Lopez to be deported from the US. "ERO Baltimore arrested Alfaro Lopez on Jan. 23, 2019. The DOJ immigration judge granted Alfaro Lopez a voluntary departure from the US within 60 days of April 16, 2019," the statement said. "He left the US on April 30, 2019."

After his deportation in 2019, Lopez illegally re-entered the US. Lopez was apprehended again on March 9, 2020, in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He was deported back to El Salvador on March 24, 2020. ICE’s statement said it's unclear when he illegally returned to the US after the March 2020 deportation.

The case against Lopez unfolded when the first victim came forward in May 2023, prompting three more victims to inform the police about the abuse between September 2023 and January 2024. The abuse involved fondling of girls as young as six years old, with incidents occurring during prayers and church events.

Details emerged from court documents revealing the disturbing nature of the abuse, including instances where Lopez would ensure the other children had their eyes closed before committing the acts. Victims described feeling manipulated and scared to speak up about the abuse, which often occurred during church activities.

Despite his initial arrest in 2023, Lopez was released on bond, where he continued his alleged abuse until he was arrested again this week on charges related to three additional victims. He remains in custody without bond, awaiting trial for the numerous sex abuse and sex offense charges brought against him.

Authorities are working to understand how Lopez managed to illegally re-enter the US after his deportation in 2020.