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Houston man who allegedly pretended to be young boy accused of sexually exploiting 2 CA girls
KINGSBURG, California — A Houston man has been indicted for the sexual exploitation of children following an incident involving two girls from California.
A federal grand jury filed four charges against 49-year-old Thomas Lopez.
Investigators say between June and July of this year, Lopez contacted two Kingsburg, California, girls through Tiktok before moving communication to the encrypted app called “Just Talk.”
Officials say he pretended to be a 12-year-old boy and asked the nine and 11-year-old to send explicit videos of themselves, which they did.
He also reportedly sent explicit videos of himself and others.
On Sept. 3, Fresno FBI agents and a Kingsburg police detective flew to Houston and served a search warrant at Lopez’s home.
He was found at the airport and was arrested.
Electronic devices were also taken from his home.
Lopez faces a minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted.
Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
With the start of the offseason right around the corner after the Stanley Cup Playoffs come to an end, the New York Rangers will be one of the teams seeking to improve.
This year, the Rangers came in last place in the Eastern Conference, and that resulted in them getting the fifth overall pick in the NHL Draft. New York will likely be using that pick to add some youth into the organization, but they also have another pick later on in the first round that they will have to decide what to do with.
While the team will have a good amount of cap space to pursue free agents, this isn’t a strong class, and it is lacking star power. For the Rangers, one of their top needs figures to be some help in the scoring department. In order to achieve that, they might have to go to the trade market looking for some help. Due to various reasons, good players always become available, and New York should pursue them if they do.
One player who could be on the radar for the Rangers is Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. As a restricted free agent, Dallas still controls his fate, but even with the salary cap increase, they are projected to be in a tough spot.
While Dallas was one of the best teams in the Western Conference and still has a window of opportunity to win, the price tag for the talented Robertson might get too high for their liking.
As a restricted free agent, the team will have the chance to keep him, but that could result in them having to shed salary. This year, the talented forward totaled 96 goals with 45 points and 51 assists. Robertson has emerged as one of the best scorers in the game, but the Stars might entertain moving him if they deem the price tag too high.
For New York, with the need for a scoring star, Robertson checks those boxes. Furthermore, at just 26 years old, he is someone that they can build around, as any deal would likely come with a long-term extension.
Overall, while the likelihood of him being dealt might not be overly high, the Rangers should certainly inquire if they make him available. Robertson is the caliber of player that could turn things around quickly for New York and would be a great addition.
The public is getting its first look at the two pandas that will be heading from China to Zoo Atlanta.
NBC’s Janis Mackey Frayer was able to visit female Fu Shuang and male Ping Ping before they make the nearly 8,000-mile flight. The giant pandas are both 6 years old and are headed to the United States as part of a new decade-long conservation agreement between China and the U.S.
Ping Ping’s keepers say he tends to follow them around, which is atypical behavior for a panda, but may be because of the food they have for him. Fu Shuang — which translates to “double happiness” — is playful, but nervous, and enjoys placing her chin on her paw. She also likes apples and has a penchant for finding them.
“Because we will hide pieces of apples, for example under the tree … she can find them everywhere,” panda keeper Wang Shun told Mackey Frayer, noting her “clever” behavior.
The pandas are part of an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, a renewal of panda diplomacy between America and China that began in 1972.
“Zoo Atlanta is delighted and honored to yet again be trusted as stewards of this treasured species and to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association on the continued conservation and research efforts that are the most important outcomes of this cooperation,” Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said in a statement in April.
“We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our Members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas.”
Pandas are already at zoos in Washington, D.C., and San Diego. Zoo Atlanta maintained a panda agreement with China from 1999 until 2024, when Lun Lun and Yang Yang went back to their home country, along with their two youngest cubs.
Animal behaviorist James Ayala marvels at how pandas mature.
“You see cubs and they seem so cuddly and clumsy and cute. And then they grow up into these big, majestic bears,” he told Mackey Frayer.
Fu Shuang and Ping Ping will be transported further south into a mountainous region where they will be prepped to make the trip to the U.S. It is unknown when they will leave.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person has died after a shooting on Cameron Drive in Augusta early Friday morning.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 25-year-old Khyla Rodriguez, of Augusta.
Richmond County deputies responded to the 3600 block of Cameron Drive around 1:11 a.m. for a suspicious situation.
While on scene, deputies spoke to the complainant who stated they got a call form an unknown person saying their friend was dead at the incident location.
Deputies then searched the area, where they found Rodriguez on the ground unresponsive with several gun shot wounds to the stomach area.
The coroner’s office says Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. An autopsy has been scheduled.
As of 4:15 a.m., at least one deputy and crime scene crews were still on scene.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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