Parents in Atlanta are facing troubling news after a former Pace Academy teacher was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two teenage students at the private school.
What Police Say: Investigators allege that 33-year-old Marshall Lopez touched two female students inappropriately during the spring semester. According to warrants, Lopez kept both girls after class, where the misconduct happened on school grounds.
Court records outline three separate incidents with one student, including times when Lopez reportedly punished her after scolding her for classwork. With the second student, police say Lopez caught her cheating on a test and gave her a “choice” of punishments. The final option, investigators say, was the assault itself.
Documents also show that Lopez is accused of hugging and inappropriately touching the same student in another encounter.
School Response: Pace Academy confirmed Lopez was fired May 1. The school called the situation “an active investigation” and directed questions to Atlanta Police.
What’s Next: Lopez is being held at Fulton County Jail. He faces two counts of sexual battery against a minor.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
