A previously convicted Megan's Law offender was sentenced to 16 years in prison without parole in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in her bedroom.
He already was on parole supervision for live when he went into the unlocked back door of the girl's home Aug. 6, 2022, and had sexual intercourse with her while his hand was over her mouth.
Cruz had been out of prison less than a year, after serving time on similar charges that had him on Megan's Law supervision.
He was not listed on the public online registry at that time, which is not required of all offenders.
Cruz also was living at a home in Hammonton at the time, about three miles from the Mullica Elementary School, according to the charges.
The girl’s mother discovered messages between her daughter and Cruz through the iCloud the two shared, and they went to police.
Police also found an image of child sexual assault on Cruz's phone.
He was convicted at trial in February, and sentenced under extended term.
Cruz must serve his entire sentence. He also was sentenced to five years in prison for the image found on his phone. That will be served concurrent to the 16 years.
He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending transfer to state prison.
