A 17-year-old girl told investigators she was grabbed while walking, forced into a house and sexually assaulted, according to authorities.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MO — Two men face felony charges after a 17-year-old girl reported that she was kidnapped while walking and sexually assaulted inside a Washington County home, according to court records and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Oscar Antonio Baltodano Lopez and Benjamin Santiz Lopez were charged after deputies investigated the girl’s report and executed a search warrant at a residence, authorities said. Baltodano Lopez faces charges including first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sodomy, rape or attempted rape, kidnapping, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Santiz Lopez faces first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy charges. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
The Sheriff’s Office received the juvenile’s report on Oct. 1, according to published accounts citing investigators and court documents. The girl told authorities she had been walking when a man grabbed her, covered her mouth and forced her into a house. Investigators allege Baltodano Lopez sexually assaulted her after taking her inside. Authorities also allege Santiz Lopez, who was identified in court records as Baltodano Lopez’s roommate, sexually assaulted the girl.
Deputies later went to the residence as part of the investigation. Authorities said the suspects initially failed to comply with deputies, leading investigators to obtain and execute a search warrant. According to a probable-cause statement, Baltodano Lopez locked himself inside a bathroom during the encounter. Deputies forced their way into the room before taking him into custody.
Investigators said Baltodano Lopez matched the description provided by the girl. Authorities also reported finding suspected methamphetamine in his room while processing the residence. That discovery led to the controlled-substance charge filed against him. Investigators also reported recovering a strand of hair while collecting evidence, though publicly available reports did not establish its forensic significance or disclose any laboratory results.
Court documents said Baltodano Lopez declined to speak with investigators without an attorney and did not voluntarily provide a DNA sample or clothing requested by authorities. His request for an attorney and decisions concerning voluntary evidence collection are not evidence of guilt. The significance and admissibility of evidence collected in the investigation remain matters for the court process.
Santiz Lopez denied having sexual contact with the girl, according to the probable-cause statement. Authorities nevertheless filed first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy charges against him based on the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office said another person was also taken into custody during the investigation but was not charged in connection with the alleged assault.
Authorities said federal immigration detainers were issued in connection with the men. The immigration proceedings are separate from the Washington County criminal cases and do not establish whether either defendant committed the crimes alleged by prosecutors. The criminal charges will be resolved through the Missouri court system, where prosecutors bear the burden of proving the allegations.
The cases remain pending in Washington County Circuit Court. Both defendants are entitled to challenge the allegations and evidence against them, and the filing of criminal charges does not constitute a finding of guilt.
Author note: Last updated October 7, 2026.