34-YEAR-OLD MULLICA TOWNSHIP MAN WAS CONVICTED ON WEDNESDAY FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Marcelino Cruz, Registered Sex Offender Was Once Again Convicted For Sex Crimes Against A 13-Year-Old Child.”
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 8:00 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
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MAYS LANDING, NJ.- On Wednesday, February 6, 2024, a 34-Year-Old Mullica Township man, who is a Registered Sex Offender was Convicted for The August 2022 Sexual Assault of a 13-Year-Old Child, within a year of being released from New Jersey State Prison for a similar Conviction.
According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, on Wednesday, a Jury sitting in Atlantic County, New Jersey returned Guilty Verdicts against Marcelino Cruz, 34, of Mullica Township, New Jersey, on The Charges of Second Degree Sexual Assault; Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and Possession of Child Pornography.
The Conviction is the result of an investigation that began when the 13-Year-Old Girl’s Mother discovered a Disturbing Text Message on her Daughter’s Phone. Investigators confirmed that Cruz, 33-YearsOld at the time was Communicating with The 13-Year-Old Child. Further Investigators determined that Cruz Engaged in a Sexual Act with The Child during the first week of August 2022. Authorities also recovered an Image of Child Pornography from Cruz’s Cell Phone.
Mr. Cruz who was already Registered as a Sex Offender, had been released from New Jersey State Prison less than a year when Sexually Assaulted the Child in August 2022. The prior Conviction in 2019 out of Salem County, New Jersey, resulted in Cruz being Sentenced to Five Years in State Prison and he was released on Parole in November of 2022.
Sentencing has been Scheduled for May 6, 2024, at which time will Face a New Jersey State Prison Term of Twenty Years. Mr. Cruz will be required to Serve the Entire Twenty Years before being returned to Parole Supervision for Life. Cruz will also continue to be a Lifetime Registered Sex Offender. Cruz also Faces a Five Year Prison Sentence for The Child Pornography Conviction.