Sonoma County Domestic Violence Perpetrator Denied Parole

Inmate David Busio Lopez, 52 years old, will remain incarcerated for at least another 7 years following his parole eligibility hearing on January 28, 2026. In 2007 Lopez was convicted by jury of domestic violence against his wife and the court found he had suffered several “strike” priors for beating another victim in 1994. The court sentenced Lopez to 35 years to life under the “three strikes law.”

Lopez was convicted by jury of 24 felonies in 1994 for beating the mother of his child on multiple occasions over a three-month period. These convictions included violent crimes, such as assault with weapons, criminal threats, child abuse, kidnap, forcible sex crimes, and torture. Lopez was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

While he was incarcerated in that case Lopez married another woman. In 2005 he was released on parole and they resided together at a motel. Within 13 days of his release, Lopez committed an act of domestic violence against his new wife and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse.

In 2026 Lopez became eligible for “elder parole” and the Prison Board held a hearing on January 28, 2026. The hearing, which was held via video-conference, was to determine whether Lopez currently poses an unreasonable risk of harm to the public or should be released into the community on parole. Changes in the state law render inmates eligible for “elder parole” after they turn 50 years old and have served 20 years of their sentence. Here, upon review of psychiatric reports, Lopez’ disciplinary record in the prison, hearing arguments by the District Attorney’s Office and Lopez’ attorney, and hearing the victim’s views on his release, the Board found Lopez poses a high-risk of danger to the public if released and denied his parole for another 7 years.

Deputy District Attorney Marianna Green appeared on behalf of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office at the hearing in opposition to Lopez’s release on parole.