A Minneapolis man propositioned a woman for sex, assaulted her with brass knuckles and prevented her from leaving his car after she got in for a ride to an after party, prosecutors say.
Jose Gerardo Lopez, 44, faces three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and fifth-degree drug possession, according to a complaint filed August 14 in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers responded at about 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, 2026, to the area of East 31st Street and 15th Avenue South in Minneapolis after a report of a possible assault and kidnapping. Officers found the victim, an adult woman, standing on the sidewalk crying and breathing heavily. Lopez was standing outside a nearby car.
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The victim told officers she knew Lopez as a friend but did not know him well. She said she had seen him at a party earlier that morning. At about 4:00 a.m., Lopez told her there was an after party at another friend’s place, and she got into his car. While driving, Lopez claimed the address for the after party had changed. The victim became uncomfortable and asked Lopez to take her home, but he refused.
The complaint states Lopez then propositioned the victim for sexual acts, asking how much money she wanted. When the victim declined, Lopez ignored her, began sexually touching her and threw dollar bills at her while driving. He then struck the victim in the arm with brass knuckles, causing an abrasion, and continued the unwanted sexual contact. The victim told police she did not consent to any touching and tried to exit the vehicle several times, but Lopez sped up each time to prevent her from leaving.
Eventually, the victim managed to escape from the car and called police. She reported being extremely afraid and scared for her life during the ordeal. Officers arrested Lopez.
During a search of Lopez’s car, officers found several small baggies containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine, as well as a handgun magazine with live bullets in the trunk.
The complaint states Lopez is on probation for a prior fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct case and is marked as non-compliant on his sex offender registration.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s kidnapping statute is § 609.25. A conviction carries up to 20 years in prison when the victim is released in a safe place without great bodily harm, and up to 40 years when those mitigating conditions are absent. Related offenses include false imprisonment (§ 609.255) and depriving another of parental rights (§ 609.26).
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
