Montebello man charged with 2012 kidnapping, rape of 6-year-old in Santa Ana

More than seven years after a 6-year-old girl was kidnapped from in front of her Santa Ana home and raped in a nearby parking lot, a Montebello man has been arrested in connection to the abduction and sexual assault, authorities said.

Francisco Javier Lopez, 45, is facing a dozen felonies, including kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 11 and dissuading a witness, among other charges, according to an Orange County District Attorney’s Office statement released on Tuesday.

On July 15, 2012, the girl was playing with a 4-year-old boy in the 1400 block of South Townsend Street when a man lured her into his car, authorities have said.

Police at the time released a general description of the man and his vehicle, along with a sketch of the suspect.

If convicted, Lopez faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said.

Officials with the Orange County District Attorneys Office and the Santa Ana Police Department declined to comment further Tuesday afternoon on the arrest or the investigation.

A news conference has been scheduled for Friday, where officials say they will describe how a “statewide effort by local and state agencies led to Lopez’ capture.”