Man in car vandalism dispute charged with child kidnapping

A man accused of kidnapping three children and attempting to hold them for ransom to recoup the cost of repairing his vandalized vehicle has been charged with three counts of child kidnapping.

The first-degree felony charges against Juan Estephan Lopez, 21, were filed in 3rd District Court Tuesday.

On June 30, an 11-year old juvenile told police that he was on his way to Sherwood Park, near 1500 West and 200 South, when Lopez grabbed him by the neck and put him inside his car, according to the charges.

Lopez asked the boy "Why did you paint my car?" but the boy denied painting the car and told him that it was actually another boy who had done it, the charges said.

Lopez, and a 15-year-old juvenile who was with him, also grabbed another 11-year-old they suspected, forced him into the car and continued to ask the boys who painted the car, according to the charges.

While driving with the boys, they then saw the 12-year-old boy who the first boy had told Lopez was the one who had done to the painting. So they put him inside the vehicle as well, according to the charges.

"Lopez then called (one of the boys' mothers) and demanded $1,000 or he would not return (the boys,)" the charges said.

The boy's mother told police that she received a phone call from Lopez telling her that he had her son because he had painted his car. Lopez said he was going to keep the boys until the mother paid him to repaint his car, the charges said.

After the phone call the mother immediately called police.

In the meantime, Lopez had dropped off the 15-year old who was with him, and the 12-year-old boy at approximately 2100 S.Redwood Road and continued to drive with the two 11-year-old boys, the charges said.

During the investigation, a police detective located Lopez driving a yellow Chevrolet Aveo and conducted a traffic stop. Officers found the two boys in the vehicle, according to the charges.

After the incident occurred, Salt Lake City police said that Lopez and the 15-year-old juvenile, who has not been named, were reportedly upset that an obscenity was spray-painted on Lopez's car.

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