Don’t Miss This: Madison County prosecutor calls Lopes sexually dangerous

Don’t miss these top stories Friday on BND.com:

▪ A man who has stirred up Madison County residents with social media statements about how having sex with children is a religious rite now faces felony charges.

James Lopes, 40, was charged with six felony counts including allegations of grooming children for sex.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons has filed a petition to have Lopes declared a sexually dangerous person which would allow him to be held indefinitely by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

▪ Students are finishing up their ceramic projects for an art show coming up for the Shiloh School District’s annual art show.

People who attend the show will even have a chance to make their own art work at one of several stations with easy-to-follow instructions and supplies.

The show will feature more than 1,000 pieces and will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 6 at Shiloh Elementary School at 125 Diamond Court in the village.

▪ Metro-east residents fill prescriptions for opioid-based prescription pain drugs at 50 times the national average, according to St. Clair County prosecutor Brendan Kelly.

In St. Clair County, 34 pain killers are sold per year per resident. In Madison County, that number jumps to 54 pills per person.

Law enforcement leaders believe the use of the pain killers is tied to the heroin epidemic that plagues the area.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 7:40 AM with the headline "Don’t Miss This: Madison County prosecutor calls Lopes sexually dangerous."