A Honduran migrant is facing multiple felony rape charges after Ohio authorities accused him of repeatedly sexually assaulting two young girls over the course of last year.
According to investigators in Hamilton County, 21-year-old Franklin Lopez, a Honduran national, was arrested this week and charged with six counts of felony rape.
Police allege Lopez repeatedly assaulted a 5-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl during 2025. The investigation began after both children disclosed the alleged abuse to a family member, who contacted authorities.
Court records indicate prosecutors accuse Lopez of sexually assaulting the younger child at least three times and assaulting the older child at least three times, resulting in the six felony charges now pending against him.
Lopez is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on a $600,000 bond as the criminal case moves forward.
Because Lopez is a Honduran citizen, immigration authorities are expected to place an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer on him, which could allow federal officials to take him into custody if he is released from local jail.
The case has already reignited debate over immigration enforcement and public safety. Supporters of stricter border security argue that violent crimes committed by non-citizens underscore the need for stronger vetting, more aggressive deportation policies, and closer cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
Lopez has been charged but has not been convicted, and, like all criminal defendants, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Prosecutors will now seek to prove the allegations as the case proceeds through Ohio’s judicial system.