Tejano artist Joe Lopez loses his appeal

Tejano artist Joe Lopez lost his appeal before the 13th Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn his 2006 conviction on aggravated sexual assault charges of a child.

The Appeals Court today issued a ruling that said it agreed with a Cameron County jury's decision that found the Tejano singer guilty on the sexual assault of female relative at his Rancho Viejo condo in April 2004.

The decision comes more than two years after Lopez, the former lead singer of Grupo Mazz, filed his appeal.

Lopez was convicted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count on indecency with a child. He was sentenced to 32 years in prison, but because he serves the sentences concurrently rather than consecutively, his punishment amounts to 20 years

Brownsville attorney Michael Young, who defended Lopez during his trial, said although he was dissappointed by the court's decision, he accepted it.

"I'm very disappointed that Joe Lopez is not going to get another trial," Young told the Brownsville Herald. "My best wishes go out to the family."

Lopez remains incarcerated at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas.

For more information on this story, read Friday's edition of The Brownsville Herald.