Shell Point man charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor Thursday
Following a routine traffic stop Thursday morning, a Shell Point man was arrested on an outstanding warrant for sexual battery with a minor. Rony Arnoldo Lopez Cano faces one charge of criminal sexual conduct with a minor for an undefined number of incidents starting in 2022, according to Maj. Angela Viens, spokesperson for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Lopez Cano was stopped Thursday morning in Port Royal for a license violation. The sheriff’s office was then notified by the local police department because the outstanding warrant surfaced through the criminal database.
The accusation of sexual battery with a minor resulted from a “mandatory reporter” alerting law enforcement about the offense in January. Warrants for his arrest were issued Monday. A mandatory reporter is someone with authority over children like a teacher, guidance counselor or doctor who must report to the police any suspicion of possible sexual misconduct
As of noon on Thursday, Lopez Cano is confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published March 7, 2024 at 12:30 PM.
