OC Church Counselor Convicted Of Molesting 4 Girls Under 8 In 2019

MISSION VIEJO, CA - A 24-year-old Mission Viejo church counselor was convicted Tuesday of molesting four girls in 2019.

Nicholas David Cruz was convicted of six felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor younger than 14. He was acquitted of one felony count of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor involving a fifth accuser.

In July of 2019, a mother called Orange County sheriff's deputies and accused Cruz of molesting her daughter during a bus ride home from a summer camp outing in Irvine, police said.

“Cruz has worked at the church since December, 2018, and was working as a part time camp counselor, working with 8- and 9-year-old children at the church, according to Irvine Police spokesperson Kim Mohr at the time of the arrest.

Cruz was convicted of molesting most of the girls in December 2018, May 2019 and July 2019 on a school bus, according to court records.

His victims were part of a Kids Club at Mission Viejo Christian Church, according to court records, and the children he worked with were between the ages 5- to 11-years-old while at the camp, according to police.

"He was immediately fired from the church," following his initial arrest, according to police.

Two of his victims were 8 years old girls, police said.

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