Published on Friday, April 25, 2008

Man arrested, charged with sexual assault

By DAVID THOMAS

A DeKalb man was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, according to a press release from the DeKalb Police Department.

Jose N. Cruz, 21, was arrested Tuesday in connection with a sexual assault that occurred Monday in the 100 block of Dots Way.

The victim said she was sexually assaulted after she was lured out of Lord Stanley’s, 142 Lincoln Highway, into the alleyway. Police discovered that the suspect earlier had left a phone number with the victim’s friends, which was traced to an acquaintance of the suspect.

The suspect had his first name tattooed on his hand, police said. When the officers confronted the acquaintance, the acquaintance identified Cruz, said Lt. Gary Spangler of the DeKalb Police Department.

The victim sustained minor injuries but did not require medical attention.

Bail was set to $800,000 Thursday. If tried and convicted, Cruz could face no less than six years and no more than 30 years in prison.