Madison Co. jury rules man who said he was on a ‘mini-date’ is ‘sexually dangerous’

A man who promoted marriage between adults and children has been declared by Madison County jurors for a second time to be a “sexually dangerous person” likely to commit sex crimes.

Jurors took less than 15 minutes on Wednesday to issue the declaration against 49-year-old James M. Lopes, according to a news release from Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine. The ruling means Lopes will remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“Lopes came to the attention of local authorities in 2016 after he had interactions with children and parents at public places in Collinsville, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Livingston,” the news release stated. “In one incident, he claimed to be on a ‘mini-date’ with a young girl. In others, he referred to young girls as ‘princess.’

“Lopes claimed to be a founder of ‘Rise Star Church,’ which on various media channels promoted sex and marriage between adults and children.”

Lopes also was found by jurors in 2017 to be a sexually dangerous person. Illinois law allows someone like Lopes to periodically get a new trial to see if they remain sexually dangerous, Haine said in the release.

In Lopes’ trial this week, a prosecutor argued that Lopes “has refused to participate in sex-offender treatment programs offered through the Department of Corrections.”

Psychologists have diagnosed Lopes “as having a pedophilic disorder, and that there was a substantial likelihood that Lopes would commit a sexual offense if released,” according to Haines’ news release.

A defense attorney for Lopes could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“This individual’s behavior put our community on edge, and I’m glad that with this victory he will remain in custody,” Haine said in the news release. “This type of individual, who apparently believes that his twisted propensities are acceptable in our society and even founded a church to promote them, is particularly dangerous.”