SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A Montebello man has been charged with 12 felony counts in connection with a 2012 cold case involving the kidnapping and rape of a 6-year-old girl in Santa Ana, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Charges against Francisco Javier Lopez, 45, include one felony count of oral copulation of a child under the age of 11 and three felony counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 11, according to a joint press release from the Orange County District Attorney's office and the Santa Ana Police Department.
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Lopez is also being charged with four sentencing enhancements of causing bodily injury to a child under 14 and aggravated kidnapping.
The victim was playing with a friend in front of her apartment when Lopez allegedly forced her into his car, police said. He then drove to a parking lot where he assaulted her.
The girl was later dropped off in the neighborhood.
If convicted on all charges, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Authorities were expected to hold a joint press conference Friday to discuss the statewide effort that led to his capture.