ASBURY PARK — A Haledon man is accused of using threats to release intimate photos of an 11-year-old girl to force her from her home before sexually assaulting her in a nearby vehicle, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.
Adolfo A. Cruz-Garcia, 23, faces first-degree charges of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and kidnapping. He also is charged with second-degree aggravated sexual extortion and sexual assault, along with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Detectives from the prosecutor’s Special Victims Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department began investigating earlier this month.
Authorities allege Cruz-Garcia connected with the girl through social media Oct. 2. Despite knowing she was 11, he requested sexually explicit photographs and offered money for sexual acts, prosecutors said.
Hours later, Cruz-Garcia allegedly went to her home and threatened to send the images to her relatives and friends unless she came outside. Prosecutors said he then drew her into the back of his vehicle, sexually assaulted her multiple times and left her near her residence.
Officers arrested Cruz-Garcia near his Haledon home Oct. 20 without incident. He was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a detention hearing tentatively set for Oct. 26. Prosecutors are seeking to have him remain in custody while the charges are pending.
Investigators ask anyone with information about Cruz-Garcia to call prosecutor’s Detective Stephanie Regina at 732-431-7160, ext. 8791, or Asbury Park Detective Terrence McGhee at 732-502-5781.
Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki, director of the Special Victims Bureau, is handling the prosecution. Information about an attorney representing Cruz-Garcia was not immediately available.
The charges are allegations. Cruz-Garcia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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