Spring Valley Woman Convicted In Slashing of Local Businesswoman

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Evelyn Lopez, 38 of Spring Valley, NY has been convicted after a three-week jury trial before the Honorable Larry J. Schwartz on the top count of Assault in the First Degree (Class B Felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree for the stabbing of a local Spring Valley businesswoman.

On March 10, 2022, as the victim was entering her vehicle, moments after closing her restaurant for the evening, the defendant approached the victim feigning the need for medical assistance. When the victim attempted to assist the defendant, the defendant proceeded to stab the victim numerous times, slashing the victim in the face and hand. The stabbing lacerated tendons in the victim’s hand requiring specialized surgery and caused a deep gash to the victim’s face. Officers from multiple police departments responded to the scene, where they recovered the knives possessed by the defendant during the attack.

District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “The defendant viciously attacked the victim as she was walking to her car after closing her restaurant for the night. This senseless act of extreme violence caused serious injuries to the victim. These criminal actions will never be tolerated by my Office and the defendant now faces a lengthy prison term as punishment.”

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023, where she faces a range of 5 to 25 years in state prison. Supervising Assistant District Attorney Graham Chapman and Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Martinez of the Violent Felony Trial Bureau prosecuted the case.