A night out in Salt Lake City ended in a criminal case after a woman told police she was sexually assaulted in a local man's apartment, according to court filings. Erick David Lopez, 37, identified in charging documents as being from El Salvador, has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault and forcible sodomy. The woman was treated for bruising and a cut after the incident, the paperwork states.
According to charging documents reviewed by ABC4 Utah, the woman told investigators she met Lopez at a local establishment on February 18 and later went to his residence. Once there, the filing says, Lopez carried out sexual acts that she did not consent to and strangled her for about 20 seconds, leaving bruising on her chest and knee and a cut on her lip.
The same court records, as reported by ABC4 Utah, state that Lopez threatened the woman, telling her he could "kill her" and "chop her up into little pieces." Officers later found his apartment and arrested him after he tried to flee, according to the filings. Lopez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a no bail warrant, and the documents note that he has an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer and no known criminal history.
Charges And Penalties
Lopez faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and forcible sodomy, both classified as first degree felonies under Utah law. Aggravated sexual assault carries enhanced minimum prison terms, and forcible sodomy can be punished by a sentence ranging from years in prison to life, as outlined in the Utah Code. As in all criminal cases, these charges are allegations, and Lopez is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Resources For Survivors
City officials continue to emphasize that support is available for survivors of sexual violence. The Salt Lake City Police Department offers victim advocate services and a 24-hour hotline, and local nonprofits such as the Rape Recovery Center provide crisis counseling and accompaniment for medical exams and court appearances. Contact information and resource lists are available from the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Rape Recovery Center.
Prosecutors will decide how to move forward on the case, including whether to pursue formal charges in court and when to schedule initial appearances. Lopez remains in custody at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail while the case proceeds. The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains the inmate roster and public booking details for the facility.
Investigators say the case is still active and are asking anyone with information to contact Salt Lake City Police at 801-799-3000 or the SLCPD Victim Advocate line at 801-580-7969. This story will be updated as additional court records and official statements become available.
