Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that on February 13, 2017, the Honorable Adam E. Jacobs, Judge of the Superior Court, sentenced Juan Cruz-Pena, 32, of Passaic to a combined term of 23 years in New Jersey State Prison for the Kidnapping, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, and Aggravated Assault of the victim, C.M., 36, of Paterson.
During the trial, the State presented evidence that on May 22, 2014, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Cruz-Pena confined C.M. to the porch of an abandoned home, located at 299 Van Houten in Paterson, for hours.
The evidence presented to the jury indicated that while on the porch, Cruz-Pena punched C.M. and forced C.M. into repeated acts of sexual contact.
The trial for Cruz-Pena commenced on July 26, 2016, and on August 4, 2016 the jury returned guilty verdicts on first degree Kidnapping, third degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, and third degree Aggravated Assault.
Cruz-Pena’s sentence on the Kidnapping is 23 years subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires that he serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, without parole eligibility.
Authorities said upon release, he is also subject to a five-year term of parole supervision.
On the third degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Cruz-Pena was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and is required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, and be subject to Parole Supervision for Life.
On the third degree Aggravated Assault, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
All sentences will run concurrent to each other for a combined term of 23 years New
Jersey State Prison. During the trial and sentence, the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer L. Kim.
Cruz-Pena acted with a co-defendant, Daniel Ortiz, 34, of Passaic whose matter was to be heard separately at a later date. Ortiz is currently a fugitive and no date has been set for further court proceedings in his matter, and although he has an outstanding warrant Ortiz presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with information regarding Daniel Ortiz to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.
Anyone with additional information may also contact the Paterson Police Department Detective Bureau at (973) 321-1120.