City man charged with sexually abusing multiple children waives preliminary hearings

A city man charged with numerous child sex crimes for sexually abusing multiple young girls years ago will have his cases proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearings.

Raul Angel Lopez-Fargas, 37, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Denise Commins on Jan. 30 on charges of rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, indecent exposure, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

Then, on Feb. 2, Lopez-Fargas waived a separate preliminary hearing before Judge Jodie Richardson on charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

In total, Lopez-Fargas faces 10 different offenses, eight of them graded as felonies.

Lopez-Fargas is accused of sexually abusing and assaulting one of the victims at his residence in the 500 block of South Duke Street on two different occasions in 2017 or 2018. The victim would have been about 7 or 8 years old at the time of the offenses.

Police began investigating Lopez-Fargas after the victim reported the abuse to law enforcement in October 2025.

In an interview with police Lopez-Fargas admitted to having abused the victim.

During the interview Lopez-Fargas also disclosed that had raped a different 6-year-old girl at a residence in the 2100 block of Horseshoe Road in East Lampeter Township in 2013. A detective spoke with the girl who told police Lopez-Fargas had raped her.

Lopez-Fargas remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail.

East Lampeter Township Police Det. Christopher Jones and Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Harry Valverde filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa will prosecute both cases.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.