Ocean County Man Charged With Sexual Assault Of 10-Year-Old

An Ocean County man has been charged with the sexual assault and child endangerment of a 10-year-old child whom he knew, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Margarito Quiroz Lopez, 51, of Lakewood, was arrested Tuesday in the case, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. Lopez is accused of sexually assaulting the child on multiple occasions in Lopez’s Lakewood home, Della Fave said.

Lakewood Police Officer Chase Messer and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Detective Melissa Matthews arrested Lopez at Lakewood police headquarters after assistant prosecutor Christine Lento approved them, Della Fave said.

He is being held at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $100,000 bail, no 10 percent option, set by Judge Wendel E. Daniels, who also issued a no-contact order and a restraining order under Nicole’s Law.

The Division of Child Protection and Permanency and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement also were notified, he said.

(Photo courtesy Ocean County Corrections Department)