Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Former two-division world champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez was arrested on Tuesday night, after a former partner filed a complaint against him for an alleged pattern of domestic violence.
The retired boxer was seen handcuffed at the headquarters of the Caguas police department, where he turned himself in, escorted by agents of the Puerto Rico police.
The former athlete arrived to the station accompanied by his lawyer, Jaime Barceló Sosa, but did not make any statements to the press.
In an interview with Telenoticias, prosecutor Jaime Perea indicated that the alleged victim had already been interviewed.
It is expected that the charges against López will be filed on Wednesday.
His former partner, Andrea Ojeda, accused López of physical and verbal abuse in publications that were made on her Instagram account.
Ojeda, who calls herself "La Pekistana" on her social networks, shared a series of videos in which she called Lopez "an abuser."
She also accused him of having problems with alcohol. In addition, she presented images of facial bruising that Lopez allegedly inflicted on her.
Ojeda stated that she decided to speak out about the alleged pattern of mistreatment after holding out for a long time. She explained in her social media posts that she did so because her silence was inconsistent with her message of female empowerment.
"I left Juanma because Juanma is an abuser," she said. “Juanma is an abuser, he is an abusive man, he is a man who has alcoholism problems. When Juanma drinks alcohol, he transforms himself into a person he is not."
This is not the first time that López has been accused of mistreatment by an ex-partner.
In 2015, he faced charges of domestic abuse against his then-partner, Geraldine Crespo. The athlete was charged with a violation of Article 3.1 of Law 54 for the Prevention and Intervention with Domestic Violence for an event that occurred on October 31 of that year. In the incident, Crespo suffered trauma to her nose.
The charges were later dismissed, due to Crespo's lack of interest in assisting authorities with the case.
After Ojeda made her accusations, Marangely Lozada, another ex-partner of López, published a message on her Instagram profile in which she detailed her experience with the former fighter.
While she was never physically abused by Lopez, there were other issues which led to their split eight months ago.
“I discovered the problems he has; psychological problems, anxiety, infidelity, a lot of insecurity, alcoholism, depression expressed with aggressiveness, machismo, above everything, he was a very controlling person,” said Lozada.
Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
-
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101044
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
-
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101044
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Juan Manuel Lopez Charged With Seven Counts Of Domestic Violence, Out On Bail And Under House Arrest
Juan Manuel Lopez has returned home after posting bond following multiple domestic violence charges.
The former two-division titlist was formally charged with seven total counts of aggravated assault and physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against Andrea Ojeda Cruz, the boxer’s ex-girlfriend who recently went public with her accusations. Lopez surrendered to authorities in his Caguas, Puerto Rico hometown Tuesday evening, and was formally charged Wednesday in Caguas Court.
Lopez, 38, was charged with six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during the preliminary probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim, at which point the prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
Judge Isander Rivera Morales set bond at $175,000, which Lopez posted in being permitted to return home. However, the boxer is placed under house arrest and remains under electronic surveillance pending further hearings.
All of the above charges are classified as fourth-degree felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of three years each. Lopez could face up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all charges, along with criminal restitution to compensate the victim for any losses suffered as a result of the alleged crimes.
Charges were filed exclusively via a sworn affidavit from the alleged victim. In light of the absence of questioning the victim given the circumstances, lead defense attorney Jaime Barcelo Sosa—representing Lopez—waived the right to questions and/or present evidence in their favor. Lopez remained silent, staring straight ahead during the proceedings.
The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse. Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The comments landed Lopez in hot water, being served a one-year suspension though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. His prime years were long gone by that point, with Lopez going 5-4-1 in the final ten fights of his career including a fourth-round stoppage to an overweight Mikey Garcia in a failed bid to regain his WBO featherweight title in their June 2013 clash in Dallas.
Lopez launched a brief comeback in 2018, with designs on pursuing an over-marinated showdown with Miami’s Yuriorkis Gamboa. The two even appeared on the same November 2018 show with the intention of next facing each other, though—naturally—the fight never materialized.
A disappointing eight-round draw with unheralded Emiliano Martin Garcia marked the final fight of Lopez’s career, taking place in May 2019 in his Caguas hometown. The southpaw briefly entered talks with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), though never advancing beyond preliminary discussion before calling it a career in March 2020.
Lopez is due to next appear in court on September 21 for a preliminary hearing.
Juan Manuel Lopez has returned home after posting bond following multiple domestic violence charges.
The former two-division titlist was formally charged with seven total counts of aggravated assault and physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against Andrea Ojeda Cruz, the boxer’s ex-girlfriend who recently went public with her accusations. Lopez surrendered to authorities in his Caguas, Puerto Rico hometown Tuesday evening, and was formally charged Wednesday in Caguas Court.
Lopez, 38, was charged with six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during the preliminary probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim, at which point the prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
Judge Isander Rivera Morales set bond at $175,000, which Lopez posted in being permitted to return home. However, the boxer is placed under house arrest and remains under electronic surveillance pending further hearings.
All of the above charges are classified as fourth-degree felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of three years each. Lopez could face up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all charges, along with criminal restitution to compensate the victim for any losses suffered as a result of the alleged crimes.
Charges were filed exclusively via a sworn affidavit from the alleged victim. In light of the absence of questioning the victim given the circumstances, lead defense attorney Jaime Barcelo Sosa—representing Lopez—waived the right to questions and/or present evidence in their favor. Lopez remained silent, staring straight ahead during the proceedings.
The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse. Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The comments landed Lopez in hot water, being served a one-year suspension though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. His prime years were long gone by that point, with Lopez going 5-4-1 in the final ten fights of his career including a fourth-round stoppage to an overweight Mikey Garcia in a failed bid to regain his WBO featherweight title in their June 2013 clash in Dallas.
Lopez launched a brief comeback in 2018, with designs on pursuing an over-marinated showdown with Miami’s Yuriorkis Gamboa. The two even appeared on the same November 2018 show with the intention of next facing each other, though—naturally—the fight never materialized.
A disappointing eight-round draw with unheralded Emiliano Martin Garcia marked the final fight of Lopez’s career, taking place in May 2019 in his Caguas hometown. The southpaw briefly entered talks with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), though never advancing beyond preliminary discussion before calling it a career in March 2020.
Lopez is due to next appear in court on September 21 for a preliminary hearing.
-
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101044
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Juan Manuel Lopez Breaks Silence After Being Arrested For Domestic Violence
Former world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez of Puerto Rico spoke for the first time since his ex-partner, Andrea Ojeda Cruz, accused him of physical and emotional abuse on social media before filing a complaint at the Caguas Area Command.
Lopez, who after being arrested managed to be released on bail, must appear on September 21 for a preliminary hearing in the Court in Caguas, had an intervention on the Telemundo program “Día a Día” and was very careful with his statements on the case.
“I want to say that Andrea is a lady, an excellent woman, a hard worker and a fighter; who has been by my side on different occasions, at very difficult moments in my life and has never left me,” Lopez told Raymond Arrieta through a video conference.
“(Andrea) is going through some very difficult times that she doesn't deserve. I ask the people of Puerto Rico, especially my fans, to give her space, respect her and hopefully this process will pass. I love her very much and I hope that if it is in the hands of God that our relationship continues, it will."
On September 8, Judge Isander Rivera Morales determined cause for the arrest of Lopez after the Department of Justice presented seven charges of physical and emotional abuse, threats, and damage to property related to four incidents of domestic violence against Ojeda Cruz, better known as La Peki on social media.
During the interview, Lopez avoided getting into the merits of the accusations being against him, explaining that he is restricted from offering additional comments while the case continues its course.
“They really are the only statements that I wanted to make for the people of Puerto Rico and for Andrea. I am not allowed to make others because it is a delicate case," Lopez said.
Lopez mentioned that he has not had any communication with Ojeda Cruz.
Former world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez of Puerto Rico spoke for the first time since his ex-partner, Andrea Ojeda Cruz, accused him of physical and emotional abuse on social media before filing a complaint at the Caguas Area Command.
Lopez, who after being arrested managed to be released on bail, must appear on September 21 for a preliminary hearing in the Court in Caguas, had an intervention on the Telemundo program “Día a Día” and was very careful with his statements on the case.
“I want to say that Andrea is a lady, an excellent woman, a hard worker and a fighter; who has been by my side on different occasions, at very difficult moments in my life and has never left me,” Lopez told Raymond Arrieta through a video conference.
“(Andrea) is going through some very difficult times that she doesn't deserve. I ask the people of Puerto Rico, especially my fans, to give her space, respect her and hopefully this process will pass. I love her very much and I hope that if it is in the hands of God that our relationship continues, it will."
On September 8, Judge Isander Rivera Morales determined cause for the arrest of Lopez after the Department of Justice presented seven charges of physical and emotional abuse, threats, and damage to property related to four incidents of domestic violence against Ojeda Cruz, better known as La Peki on social media.
During the interview, Lopez avoided getting into the merits of the accusations being against him, explaining that he is restricted from offering additional comments while the case continues its course.
“They really are the only statements that I wanted to make for the people of Puerto Rico and for Andrea. I am not allowed to make others because it is a delicate case," Lopez said.
Lopez mentioned that he has not had any communication with Ojeda Cruz.
-
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101044
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Juan Manuel Lopez Defense Team Granted Postponement, New Court Date October 5
Juan Manuel Lopez will remain in prison ahead of his next court date.
A preliminary hearing held Tuesday at Caguas Court of First Instance revealed that the legal team for Lopez—led by attorney Jaime Barcelo—was not prepared to proceed with its case due to the former two-division titlist’s current incarceration hindering his ability to assist with the defense. Presiding judge Jose Anglada granted the motion, along with a new court date of October 5 set to review current charges against the former boxer.
Lopez faces seven total counts of aggravated assault and physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against ex-girlfriend Andrea Ojeda Cruz. Lopez, 38, surrendered to authorities on September 7 and was formally charged the next day in Caguas Court, after which he was released upon posting $175,000 bond and with instructions to return to court on Tuesday.
That dynamic was compromised after Lopez was arrested last Wednesday due to violating the terms of his bail agreement after making contact with the alleged victim. Lopez’s attendance on Tuesday was limited to video conference call, wearing a tan prison jump suit and face mask during the sixteen-minute session.
Lopez faces six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during the preliminary probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim, at which point the prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
Judge Isander Rivera Morales set bond at $175,000, which Lopez posted. Terms of the bail agreement included his remaining under house arrest and electronic surveillance pending further hearings. That is no longer the case given his recent arrest, as he will remain in jail at least through the October 5 hearing.
All of the above charges are classified as fourth-degree felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of three years each. Lopez could face up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all charges, along with criminal restitution to compensate the victim for any losses suffered as a result of the alleged crimes.
The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse. Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez (36-6-1, 32KOs) has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The harsh allegations resulted in Lopez being dealt a one-year suspension, though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. He was unable to recapture past glory by that point, winning just five of his final ten fights before his official retirement last March.
Juan Manuel Lopez will remain in prison ahead of his next court date.
A preliminary hearing held Tuesday at Caguas Court of First Instance revealed that the legal team for Lopez—led by attorney Jaime Barcelo—was not prepared to proceed with its case due to the former two-division titlist’s current incarceration hindering his ability to assist with the defense. Presiding judge Jose Anglada granted the motion, along with a new court date of October 5 set to review current charges against the former boxer.
Lopez faces seven total counts of aggravated assault and physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against ex-girlfriend Andrea Ojeda Cruz. Lopez, 38, surrendered to authorities on September 7 and was formally charged the next day in Caguas Court, after which he was released upon posting $175,000 bond and with instructions to return to court on Tuesday.
That dynamic was compromised after Lopez was arrested last Wednesday due to violating the terms of his bail agreement after making contact with the alleged victim. Lopez’s attendance on Tuesday was limited to video conference call, wearing a tan prison jump suit and face mask during the sixteen-minute session.
Lopez faces six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during the preliminary probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim, at which point the prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
Judge Isander Rivera Morales set bond at $175,000, which Lopez posted. Terms of the bail agreement included his remaining under house arrest and electronic surveillance pending further hearings. That is no longer the case given his recent arrest, as he will remain in jail at least through the October 5 hearing.
All of the above charges are classified as fourth-degree felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of three years each. Lopez could face up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all charges, along with criminal restitution to compensate the victim for any losses suffered as a result of the alleged crimes.
The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse. Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez (36-6-1, 32KOs) has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The harsh allegations resulted in Lopez being dealt a one-year suspension, though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. He was unable to recapture past glory by that point, winning just five of his final ten fights before his official retirement last March.
-
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101044
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Domestic Violence Charges Against Juan Manuel Lopez Dismissed Without Prejudice
Juan Manuel Lopez is a free man.
The former two-division titlist saw a seven-count assault and abuse case dismissed without prejudice Wednesday morning in the Court of First Instance in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The locally-based Lopez was accused of aggravated assault plus physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against ex-girlfriend Andrea Ojeda Cruz who failed to report to court on consecutive days in ultimately leading to the dismissal.
Wednesday’s ruling also no longer requires Lopez to remain under electronic monitoring, as authorities were instructed to remove the ankle bracelet the boxer has been required to wear since last September.
“I am pleased, but more than anything I want to apologize to Andrea's family for all this process they have gone through,” Lopez told local reporters after the court hearing. “Andrea is a great woman and I want to ask the general public to give her space because they have defamed her, they have pressured her.
“The time has come for her to be able to [live her life].”
Lopez initially surrendered to authorities in his Caguas hometown last September 7 following public accusations and official charges filed by Ojeda, better known online as ‘La Peki.’ The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse.
Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez was formally charged one day later, at which point he was freed upon posting a $175,000 bond which came with instructions for his next court date. The terms of Lopez’s bail were violated after the boxer attempted to make contact with the alleged victim. He was required at that point to remain under electronic monitoring, along with a restraining order which remains in place through October.
Lopez faces up to eight years in prison should he violate the order of protection.
Any other charges against Lopez will have to be refiled once the prosecution is in position to once again proceed with its case. That dynamic was challenged this past January when Ojeda along with a previous cooperating witness were unable to be located. Two separate attempts to contact both parties were unsuccessful, along with Tuesday’s hearing delayed when Ojeda did not show up in court.
A request by the prosecution for a one-day delay was granted since there was already a court date scheduled for Wednesday, although ultimately producing the same result.
“It was the correct decision under the criminal procedure jurisdiction,” Jaime Barcelo, lead counsel for Lopez told reporters. “We look forward to this moment.
“Since [last] September we have been waiting for an ending like the one we’ve had today.”
Lopez previously faced six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during a probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim. The prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
All seven charges were fourth-degree felonies, with Lopez having faced up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
The legal process began to shift in Lopez’s favor after Ojeda became less and less cooperative with the prosecution’s case. Efforts to contact her via phone were unsuccessful as the number provided did not include an activated voice mail service. Back-to-back no-shows in court left the prosecution at the mercy of the court’s decision to dismiss charges without prejudice.
It is now, however, to be mistaken for the prosecution otherwise lacking evidence to initially proceed with the case.
”Andrea Ojeda was duly summoned by the court and the Public Ministry made the necessary arrangements for her to appear,” explained lead prosecutor Maritza Valero Ramirez. “I want to clarify that the Public Ministry does not file cases of domestic violence unless justice is done because it is not just any crime.
“Today was the last day and the ruling in court was to dismiss the charges."
Lopez (36-6-1, 32KOs) has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The harsh allegations resulted in Lopez being dealt a one-year suspension, though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. He was unable to recapture past glory by that point, winning just five of his final ten fights before his official retirement in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic when the uncertainty of when he could fight again left Lopez to simply walk away from the sport.
Juan Manuel Lopez is a free man.
The former two-division titlist saw a seven-count assault and abuse case dismissed without prejudice Wednesday morning in the Court of First Instance in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The locally-based Lopez was accused of aggravated assault plus physical and psychological abuse, stemming from four alleged incidents of gender violence against ex-girlfriend Andrea Ojeda Cruz who failed to report to court on consecutive days in ultimately leading to the dismissal.
Wednesday’s ruling also no longer requires Lopez to remain under electronic monitoring, as authorities were instructed to remove the ankle bracelet the boxer has been required to wear since last September.
“I am pleased, but more than anything I want to apologize to Andrea's family for all this process they have gone through,” Lopez told local reporters after the court hearing. “Andrea is a great woman and I want to ask the general public to give her space because they have defamed her, they have pressured her.
“The time has come for her to be able to [live her life].”
Lopez initially surrendered to authorities in his Caguas hometown last September 7 following public accusations and official charges filed by Ojeda, better known online as ‘La Peki.’ The story quickly made the rounds after Ojeda took to her personal Instagram page to reveal a series of photos and videos accusing Lopez of repeated physical and emotional abuse.
Ojeda alleged the acts of domestic violence were going on for years and often attributed to alcohol abuse.
“I left JuanMa because JuanMa is an abuser,” Ojeda stated on social media. “JuanMa is an abuser, he is an abusive man… a man who has issues with alcoholism. When JuanMa drinks… he turns into a person that is not himself.”
Lopez was previously charged with similar actions in 2015 with then-partner Geraldine Crespo. The charges were dropped due to Crespo ultimately refusing to cooperate with authorities who sought to proceed with the case.
However, Ojeda’s decision to come forward prompted a similar accusation from another ex-girlfriend of Lopez. Marangely Lozada cited the boxer’s battles with alcoholism and aggression in citing psychological abuse, though not revealing any incidents of being physically harmed.
Lopez was formally charged one day later, at which point he was freed upon posting a $175,000 bond which came with instructions for his next court date. The terms of Lopez’s bail were violated after the boxer attempted to make contact with the alleged victim. He was required at that point to remain under electronic monitoring, along with a restraining order which remains in place through October.
Lopez faces up to eight years in prison should he violate the order of protection.
Any other charges against Lopez will have to be refiled once the prosecution is in position to once again proceed with its case. That dynamic was challenged this past January when Ojeda along with a previous cooperating witness were unable to be located. Two separate attempts to contact both parties were unsuccessful, along with Tuesday’s hearing delayed when Ojeda did not show up in court.
A request by the prosecution for a one-day delay was granted since there was already a court date scheduled for Wednesday, although ultimately producing the same result.
“It was the correct decision under the criminal procedure jurisdiction,” Jaime Barcelo, lead counsel for Lopez told reporters. “We look forward to this moment.
“Since [last] September we have been waiting for an ending like the one we’ve had today.”
Lopez previously faced six counts of physical assault under the domestic violence statute, along with one separate count of psychological abuse. All seven charges were introduced during a probable cause hearing after prosecuting attorney Jaime Perea Mercado interviewed the victim. The prosecutor’s office claimed the boxer was in violation of Sections 3.1 (Abuse) and 3.3 (Abuse by Threat) of Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, commonly known as Law 54.
All seven charges were fourth-degree felonies, with Lopez having faced up to 21 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
The legal process began to shift in Lopez’s favor after Ojeda became less and less cooperative with the prosecution’s case. Efforts to contact her via phone were unsuccessful as the number provided did not include an activated voice mail service. Back-to-back no-shows in court left the prosecution at the mercy of the court’s decision to dismiss charges without prejudice.
It is now, however, to be mistaken for the prosecution otherwise lacking evidence to initially proceed with the case.
”Andrea Ojeda was duly summoned by the court and the Public Ministry made the necessary arrangements for her to appear,” explained lead prosecutor Maritza Valero Ramirez. “I want to clarify that the Public Ministry does not file cases of domestic violence unless justice is done because it is not just any crime.
“Today was the last day and the ruling in court was to dismiss the charges."
Lopez (36-6-1, 32KOs) has not fought since May 2019, having formally retired last March at the start of the pandemic. A member of the 2004 Puerto Rico Olympic team that competed in Athens, Lopez boxed pro on and off from 2004-2019, having won WBO titles at junior featherweight and featherweight. The well-schooled southpaw ran his record to 30-0 before running into Orlando Salido, suffering an eighth-round knockout in April 2011.
A rematch with Salido in March 2012 proved just as competitive though with a similar outcome, as Lopez was stopped in the tenth-round of their WBO featherweight title fight in San Juan. In an interview immediately after the fight, Lopez claimed the fight was prematurely stopped due to a vendetta held by Roberto Ramirez Sr. whom the boxer accused of having a gambling problem.
The harsh allegations resulted in Lopez being dealt a one-year suspension, though slightly reduced as he returned to the ring in February 2013. He was unable to recapture past glory by that point, winning just five of his final ten fights before his official retirement in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic when the uncertainty of when he could fight again left Lopez to simply walk away from the sport.
Re: Juan Manuel Lopez Arrested After Claims of Domestic Abuse
Sounds like they kissed and made up.