A Beach Park man was ordered detained in Lake County jail while awaiting trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman with intellectual disabilities.
Alfredo De La Cruz, 70, of the 10200 block of West Fairbanks Avenue, is facing more than 30 years in prison on charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault of an Intellectually Disabled Person, a Class X felony, two class one felony counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, and a class two felony count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of an Intellectually Disabled Person.
During his detention hearing Thursday in front of Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak, prosecutors said De La Cruz was caught on video sexually assaulting the disabled person on more than five occasions in his home May 17.
In addition, prosecutors said the disabled person was unable to fend off the attacks and communicate after the attacks took place.
Potknojak said he has to “live with my own conscious” before ordering De La Cruz detained while awaiting trial.
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to an area hospital May 17 for a woman having a panic attack after discovering her daughter had been sexually assaulted, authorities said.
Sheriff’s detectives learned the victim’s mother cleaned De La Cruz’s Beach Park home for about two years and is allowed to bring the daughter to the home and sits her in the living room while she cleans, authorities said.
The mother became suspicious after she noticed De La Cruz zipping up his pants when she came downstairs to the living room where the daughter was located.
In response, the mother of the victim placed her cell phone in the room to video record her daughter while cleaning on May 17, authorities said.
After leaving the home that day, the mother discovered De La Cruz was forcing the daughter into sexual acts on the video.
In the detention hearing, prosecutors said the video captured De La Cruz assaulting the disabled person on five occasions on May 17.
Sheriff’s detectives obtained an arrest warrant and arrested De La Cruz May 21 and conducted a search warrant at De La Cruz’ home following his arrest, authorities said.
De La Cruz’s next court date is unknown at this time.