DERWOOD, Md. — A man accused of sexually abusing multiple children while working as a teacher at a Maryland church had been deported prior to his arrest in the case, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told WUSA9 on Wednesday.
Editor's Note: The video above aired on March 12, 2024.
In May of 2023, detectives with the Montgomery County Department of Police's Special Victims Division opened an investigation after a victim reported being sexually abused by a teacher at a Derwood church located near the 15700 block of Crabbs Branch Way in Montgomery County.
Pastor Bernal Osorio with the Elim Gaithersburg Church confirmed to WUSA9 that the alleged abuse happened in its Derwood location.
After the first victim came forward in May, police say three more victims came forward between September 2023 and January 2024. All of the victims claimed to have been sexually abused by the same man at the same church.
Police said the abuse happened between 2016 and 2018.
All of the victims were between the ages of 6 and 12 years old at the time of the abuse.
This month, detectives got an arrest warrant, charging 33-year-old Ervin Jeovany Alfaro Lopez with multiple offenses, including sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sex offense and third-degree sex offense; Alfaro Lopez was 25 to 27 years old at the time of the alleged crimes.
Court documents indicate that Alfaro Lopez inappropriately touched his students when the kids were in the dark watching movies or when they had their eyes closed for prayer.
The charging documents also state that Alfaro Lopez admitted to the church's pastor that he had touched a girl inappropriately, and that it was, "dealt with internally."
Osorio told WUSA9 that his church cooperated with the police investigation. "We don't know people's hearts. At first we were shocked. How could this be possible? But as details came to light, we were outraged. I pity the people that make these decisions," he added.
Osorio says these allegations have divided his congregation, and he hopes that if there are more victims, that they call police.
Alfaro Lopez was arrested on Monday.
Previously deported
On Wednesday, ICE told WUSA9 that Alfaro Lopez had been previously deported. They say he is Salvadoran and was in the country illegally.
“Ervin Jeovany Alfaro Lopez is a 33-year-old unlawfully present, previously removed Salvadoran noncitizen," ICE said in a statement. "He was arrested by U.S. 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."
It is not clear from ICE's statement what happened after April 1, 2015, but it added that an immigration judge in Baltimore ordered Alfaro Lopez to be removed from the United States on Sept. 26, 2018.
"ERO Baltimore arrested Alfaro Lopez on Jan. 23, 2019. The DOJ immigration judge granted Alfaro Lopez a voluntary departure from the U.S. within 60 days of April 16, 2019," ICE said. "He left the U.S. on April 30, 2019."
Alfaro Lopez was apprehended again on March 9, 2020 in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, after he came back into the country illegally, ICE said. Border Patrol processed him for expedited removal, and he was deported to El Salvador on March 24, 2020.
Later, at an unknown time and place, he re-entered the country again, ICE said.
Alfaro Lopez is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who may have been a victim of Alfaro Lopez is being asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division office at (240) 773-5400.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.