MONROE, N.C. — A Union County jury has found Luis Miguel Vail-Lopez guilty of second-degree forcible rape and simple assault, sentencing him to 6 years, 1 month to 12 years, 4 months in prison, plus an additional 30 days.
The conviction stems from an incident on Sept. 19, 2022, when Vail-Lopez, 22, attacked a 19-year-old woman in the Dickerson Park area of Monroe, the Union County District Attorney’s Office posted on Facebook. The victim was stalked, grabbed, and dragged to an abandoned property in the area of Engleside Street near Iceman Street in Monroe where the assault occurred.
“This victim showed incredible courage coming to court and confronting her attacker,” said District Attorney Trey Robison, commending her strength and dedication throughout the process.
Upon his release, if not deported to Guatemala, Vail-Lopez will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
The case highlights the effective use of DNA and cell phone location data in securing a conviction, underscoring the importance of technological evidence in modern criminal investigations, the DA said.
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