Police arrest mother of girl, 15, in relationship with soccer coach

Daughter told police her mother approved of relationship, but mother denies it

Fri, Oct 23, 2009 (1:49 p.m.)

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Gabriel G. Lopez

Henderson Police have arrested the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was in an ongoing sexual relationship with a soccer coach.

The private soccer club coach, 40-year-old Gabriel G. Lopez of Las Vegas, was booked Wednesday on 11 counts of statutory sexual seduction, Henderson Police said.

A Henderson police officer spotted a black Chevy Tahoe parked in a dark area of the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex parking lot about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. The officer found a man and a girl inside the vehicle and the girl said she had had sexual relations with Lopez since June.

Police said that the alleged sexual relationship is believed to be consensual, the girl had not reached the age of consent, which is 16 years under state law.

After Lopez and the girl gave police separate interviews to the police, the girl told police that her mother approved of the relationship. "Love only comes around once," she quoted her mother as saying.

The girl also told police that her mother also said, "You can't deny love. You never know who it will be," according to a police report.

The girl told police that her mother suggested Lopez provide a second cell phone to the girl, so her father would not find out about the relationship, the report said.

According to the mother's interview with police, she denied approving of her daughter's relationship with Lopez, and told her to end the affair.

The mother is facing a felony charge of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

Police are asking that anyone with information about Lopez or this case to call detectives at (702) 267-4773, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.

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