Child Predator Denied Parole
On October 28, 2025, TCDA prosecutors secured a 5-year denial of parole for Salvador Lopez, age 65, who is currently serving a life sentence for crimes against children. Lopez is serving his sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
Between 1999 and 2001, Lopez sexually assaulted two minor female children aged 11 to 13 and 6 to 8. In 2004, a Tulare County jury convicted Lopez of 15 felony counts of child molestation along with special allegations that the crimes used force, encompassed multiple victims, and was of substantial conduct. He was sentenced to 190 years to life in prison.
Despite a formidable sentence by the court, current California provisions concerning elder parole allowed for this inmate to be considered for parole. In 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 3234, a bill by the legislature that modified the penal code to lower the age of elder parole qualification to those aged 50 or older who have served 20 years or more of continuous incarceration.
“It’s shameful that the Governor and the state legislature will not exclude child predators from the list of eligible inmates considered for elder parole,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “Once again, victims now must endure hearing after hearing instead of having the peace of mind that this predator will never leave prison. We must have truth in sentencing.”
This was Lopez’s first parole hearing. At the hearing, commissioners noted that Lopez refused to attend or participate in rehabilitative programming and posed an unreasonable danger if released.
The Office of the District Attorney regularly attends life parole hearings and a deputy district attorney argued against the inmate’s release in this case.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494