Image sources: Marshall Lopez, courtesy of Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Pace Academy, courtesy of Homes.com.
A former teacher at Pace Academy, a prestigious preparatory school in Atlanta, Georgia, has been arrested on two felony counts of sexual battery against minors. The charges stem from allegations that female students were harmed during the 2024–2025 school year.
Allegations Against Marshall Lopez
33-year-old Marshall Lopez allegedly isolated students in his classroom in order to “discipline” them.
11Alive reports that “Lopez is accused of hitting two female students on their buttocks.” These incidents reportedly occurred at the school between March and May.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Lopez told the student he felt like she was underperforming in his class, the warrant says. In one instance, the warrant says he pulled down her pants and struck her above her underwear.”
Lopez allegedly hit her on the buttocks on three different instances. On one occasion, he “‘asked her not to tell anyone with a pinky promise.’” (Atlanta News First)
The police report says that, at first, the student stayed silent out of fear and started to skip Lopez’s classes. Administrators later became aware of the allegations and investigated.
Another student reported that after Lopez caught her cheating on an exam, he told her she could choose between three punishments: inform her mother, face the school’s honor council, or let him decide. When she let him decide, Lopez allegedly locked the classroom door and struck her buttocks four times with his bare hand before stopping when another student knocked.
School administrators were ultimately contacted in regards to this incident.
The same student “said Lopez on other occasions would give her hugs and touch her buttocks.” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
According to a statement from Pace Academy, Lopez was fired from the school on May 1, 2025.
Court and Jail Records
According to Fulton County jail records, Lopez was booked on September 1, 2025, by the Atlanta Police Department on two felony charges of sexual battery of a minor. The offense dates were listed as March 1 and April 29 of that year. He was released on September 3 on two $10,000 bonds.
Authorities are working to identify any additional victims.
Pace Academy’s Reputation
Pace Academy says that its mission is “to create prepared, confident citizens of the world.”
True preparation and confidence, however, begin with ensuring students are safe in their classrooms.
Allegations that a teacher abused students, combined with a previous sexual assault lawsuit against the school, cast serious doubt on whether the institution is fully living up to that mission.
Prior Lawsuits against Pace Academy
In 2020, Pace Academy was sued by the families of students who said they were sexually assaulted by a football player in 2017 and 2018. The lawsuits alleged that school leaders prioritized the football program’s reputation over student safety and chose not to believe a victim. The lawsuits accused the school of negligence, recklessness, and failure to protect the students.
In one of the cases, the player was convicted, and in another, he entered a plea.
While unrelated to the current charges against Marshall Lopez, these prior lawsuits highlight serious failures in how the school has handled reports of sexual abuse.
Survivors’ Rights
The criminal case against Lopez will determine whether he is found guilty and punished under Georgia law. But criminal proceedings do not address the personal impact on survivors or provide them with direct support.
For that, survivors often turn to the civil justice system.
A civil case can help provide financial resources for therapy, medical care, educational support, and other tools needed for recovery. Civil action also drives organizations to examine their policies, confront systemic failures, and implement stronger protections to prevent future abuse.
No survivor should have to carry the burden of abuse alone. Civil litigation can be an important step toward healing, validation, and ensuring that institutions live up to their responsibility to keep students safe.
Contact Our Legal Team
If you or someone you love was harmed by Marshall Lopez or another teacher while attending Pace Academy or another school, our attorneys are here to listen, guide you through your options, and fight for justice on your behalf.
Andreozzi and Foote has decades of experience representing survivors of sexual abuse and holding schools and other institutions accountable for the harm they allowed to happen.
You are not alone. You have a voice. And you deserve to be heard.
Contact us today to discuss your options with a trauma-informed attorney.
