A New Jersey man is accused of luring an 11-year-old girl from her home by threatening to share partially nude photos of her before sexually assaulting her in his car.
Adolfo A. Cruz-Garcia, of Passaic County, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree aggravated sexual extortion, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering, according to prosecutors.
Cruz-Garcia, 23, was arrested near his Haledon home on Tuesday, October 20, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said in a Thursday, October 22, news release announcing his criminal charges.
His arrest came more than two weeks after he allegedly sexually assaulted the 11-year-old girl from Asbury Park on October 2.
Cruz-Garcia met the child hours earlier on social media that same day, according to authorities. The prosecutor’s office didn’t specify which social media platform they allegedly met on.
Although he was aware of her age, the prosecutor’s office said he “solicited photos of her in a state of undress and offered her money in exchange for the performance of sexual acts.”
According to investigators, Cruz-Garcia later drove to the girl’s home and threatened to reveal partially nude images of her to her family and friends unless she came outside.
After allegedly blackmailing her, he is accused of luring her into the back of his car and sexually assaulting her several times, the prosecutor’s office said.
Afterward, he dropped her off near her Asbury Park residence, according to authorities.
Cruz-Garcia was booked into the Monmouth County Correctional Institution ahead of a detention hearing tentatively set for October 26. Prosecutors plan to file a petition requesting Cruz-Garcia to remain detained over the course of his case.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Cruz-Garcia had retained legal counsel.
He is reportedly wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Federal officials have lodged an immigration detainer against Cruz-Garcia, per the newspaper, which reported immigration authorities didn’t immediately provide further details on his immigration status.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office encourages anyone with information about Cruz-Garcia to contact MCPO Detective Stephanie Regina at 732-431-7160, Ext. 8791 or Asbury Park Police Department Detective Terrence McGhee at 732-502-5781.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
