FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hartford, CT) - Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney, announced today that a jury in Hartford Superior Court on April 26, 2024 found Angel Cruz, age 59, of Hartford, guilty of three counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-70(a)(2), six counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-71(a)(1), two counts of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-73a(a)(1A), and six counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-21(a)(2).
According to evidence introduced at trial, on February 25, 2020, the victim, now an adult, went to the Hartford Police Department to report that when she was between the ages of 5 and 13, she was sexually assaulted by Cruz, her mother’s boyfriend, while her mother was at work. Because of the statute of limitations and delayed disclosure, the charges the defendant faced were for crimes that occurred when the victim was between the ages of 12 and 13.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Elena Palermo with the assistance of Supervisory Inspector Emory Hightower and Inspector Thomas Steck. The Honorable Kevin C. Doyle presided over the trial.
State’s Attorney Walcott wishes to extend her gratitude to the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney for their assistance in bringing this case to trial. “The trial unit in the Bureau has been invaluable in helping to ensure that we bring justice for victims in several cases such as this,” State’s Attorney Walcott said. “Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Palermo handled the case with extreme care and concern that is greatly appreciated by the victim, her family, and me."
Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2024, in Hartford Superior Court.