Pascacio López's sexual assault case drags on amid legal battles and delays

Actor Pascacio López faces a prolonged legal battle over an alleged sexual assault. Actress Sarah Nichols filed a complaint against him for an incident said to have occurred in late 2020 during the filming of the Netflix series Guerra de vecinos. The case has already seen multiple legal twists since charges were first brought in 2022. López was initially charged and detained in 2022. A judge later ordered his pretrial detention for six months, a period that can extend up to two years for the offence in question. He briefly secured release on appeal, but Nichols’ legal team successfully challenged the decision, forcing the case to be reopened.

The next stage involves a two-month window for further investigation. If no additional disputes arise, the trial and final ruling could occur between November and December of this year. However, repeated delays might keep López in pretrial detention for the full two-year term.

A legal conflict between Mexican law and rulings by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights could allow López to face trial as a free man. Regardless of his detention status, the legal process would continue without interruption. The case remains active, with the possibility of a trial later this year. López’s detention status may change, but the proceedings will proceed as scheduled. The outcome depends on the investigation’s findings and any further legal challenges.