ATLANTIC COUNTY MAN CONVICTED OF EXPLICIT CONTACT, CHILD ENDANGERMENT

Marcelino Cruz, 34, from Mullica Township, Atlantic County, was found guilty by an Atlantic County jury on February 7 of second-degree explicit contact, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of explicit abuse material (CSAM). The investigation began when the mother of the minor child found disturbing text messages on the child’s phone, leading to confirmation that Cruz, then 33, was communicating with the 13-year-old child.

It was discovered that Cruz engaged in explicit acts with the minor child in August 2022. Additionally, an image of CSAM was found on Cruz’s phone. 

Despite being a registered offender, Cruz had been released from prison less than a year before the assault, stemming from a prior conviction in 2019 in Salem County, for which he served five years and was released on parole in November 2022. As a result of the recent conviction, Cruz faces up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, with no chance of parole before serving the full term, and will be under parole supervision for life, as well as continued registration pursuant to Megan’s Law. He also faces up to five years each for endangering the welfare of a child and possession of CSAM.

The investigation was conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and the Mullica Township Police Department, with Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany deGrandmaison handling the case for the state. Cruz's sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2024, before the Honorable Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C.