Grupo Mazz co-founder and lead singer Jose Manuel “Joe” Lopez is on the verge of freedom for the first time in more than a decade.
His family wants to take it a step further.
The family wants to exonerate Lopez of his conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl near Brownsville in 2004.
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Attorney Bill Habern told The McAllen Monitor that Lopez’s family will be raising the money necessary to bring on a chief attorney for the case.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice database, Lopez agreed to be transferred to a Sex Offender Education Program and would be released “not earlier than four months from 01/2017” after completion.
Lopez, 66, became famous as the group’s lead vocalist, producing several hits and albums for the Brownsville-based band. He and co-founder Jimmy Gonzalez went on to form separate bands, but each kept the name Mazz in some fashion.
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Lopez was imprisoned at the W. F. Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas.
Habern said it will likely take some time for Lopez to return to performing as he readjusts to civilian life after years in prison.
