HARLINGEN — Two weeks after Krystal Lopez spoke out against Joe Lopez’s parole, the state is delaying his release.
Lopez, the Grammy-award winning co-founder and singer of Grupo Mazz, was ordered to complete a nine-month sex offender program set to begin May 1, Raymond Estrada, spokesman for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, said today.
When Lopez was granted parole last month, the parole board ordered he complete a four-month sex offender program.
“Upon the receipt of additional information, the parole panel determined that requiring completion of a nine-month Sex Offender Treatment Program was more appropriate than a four-month treatment program,” Estrada said.
In 2006, a Cameron County jury gave Lopez 32 years for raping Krystal Lopez in 2004, when she was 13.
Lopez was sentenced to 20 years for one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child; eight years for a second count of aggravated sexual assault of a child; and four years for indecency with a child.
But since he’s serving his sentences simultaneously, he was ordered to serve 20 years in prison.
On Feb. 2, Krystal Lopez received her opportunity to make her case before the parole board.
Because the board apparently failed to notify Krystal of its intention to vote on her uncle’s parole, a board member met with her during an hour-long special review hearing.
