HEBER CITY, Utah-Early Tuesday, a 21-year-old man was booked into the Wasatch County Jail after accusations of preying on numerous 13 and 14-year-old girls.

Joaquin Lopez was charged in 4th District Court Tuesday with two counts of rape of a child, a first-degree felony, sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony and 14 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony.

Investigators have since identified at least five girls, all of whom are in the 13 and 14-year-old range, who either engaged in sexual activity or were forced to have sex with Lopez. Per a police affidavit, the girls believed he was 16 years old.

The investigation commenced after police confirmed a relative of one of the girls recognized Lopez as someone she went to school with.

This caused the girl to file a report on the SafeUT app.

Monday, detectives interviewed girls who had allegedly had contact with Lopez.

The affidavit asserts that the girls authentically believed Lopez was 16 years old. It continued, stating Lopez appeared to lie about his age so he could be around these victims.

Police confirmed Lopez has a “small figure,” making it conceivable that he could have passed as a 16-year-old.

Lopez denied all allegations when interviewed by police and claimed a mother of one of the girls gave him psychedelic mushrooms and “took advantage of him” per the affidavit.

The affidavit further stated Lopez mentioned several of the victims by name and were attempting to extort $20,000 from him. Furthermore, they believe he is rich, he claimed, because he drives his dad’s Mercedes SUV per the affidavit.

Police arrested Lopez following an interview with him.