35-Year-Old Child Predator Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Assaulting Teen Girl & Child Pornography
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 10:30 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MAYS LANDING, NJ.- Yesterday, a 35-year-old Mullica Township, New Jersey man appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court and was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison in connection with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, and for possession of child pornography.
According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Marcelino Cruz, 35, of Mullica Township, New Jersey, was sentenced by a Superior Court Judge to a 16-year extended term in State Prison.
The Judge ordered Cruz to serve the full 16 years due to the fact that Cruz was already on parole supervision for life for a past conviction. Upon completion of the 16-year sentence, Cruz will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law Registration requirements and will resume parole supervision for life.
On February 7, 2024, a jury sitting in Atlantic County, New Jersey, found Cruz guilty of second-degree Sexual Assault; third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and third-degree Possession of Child Pornography. The jury found that Cruz when he was 33 years old, had sexual intercourse with a minor child who was 13 years old at the time on August 6, 2022. They also found Cruz was in possession of an item of child sexual abuse material on his cellular phone.
FILED UNDER: JUNE 5, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, ATLANTIC: