A Bridgeton man was arrested and charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl following a joint investigation, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.
Alex Torres-Lopez, 35, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child related to child sexual abuse material. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial.
The investigation began Jan. 5 after the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit was alerted by the Trenton Police Department.
Authorities said the investigation found that the victim met Torres-Lopez on social media platforms.
On multiple occasions in the fall of 2025, Torres-Lopez allegedly met the girl in Trenton and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. The investigation also revealed he solicited explicit images and videos from the victim.
Torres-Lopez was taken into custody without incident at his Bridgeton residence on Jan. 7 by the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit.
First-degree crimes in New Jersey carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000.
The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Prosecutor’s Detectives Natalie Martinez and Gloria Phillips and Trenton Detective Taja Durling.
Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey urged anyone with information about suspected online exploitation of children to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at (609) 989-6568.
Despite the charges, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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