Probationer Arrested For Alleged Sex Assault Of Temecula Girl

TEMECULA, CA – A probationer suspected of sexually assaulting a Temecula girl was being held Friday in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Miguel Esteban Cruz, 26, was arrested Thursday and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, resisting arrest and probation violations.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Robert Menchaca, about 9:30 a.m., deputies were called to the area of Vail Ranch Park, near Harmony Lane and Vail Ranch Parkway, to investigate reports of a sexual battery.

Menchaca said the victim, a girl whose identity was not released, alleged she had been assaulted by a man and provided deputies with a detailed description.

During a search of the area, Cruz was detained based on the victim's statements. Mechaca said the convicted felon was positively identified as the alleged perpetrator and transported to jail.

According to court records, Cruz has prior convictions for sodomy of a minor and receiving stolen property.

Anyone with information on the case can call Deputy Humberto Garcia-Flores at (951) 696-3000.

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--City News Service/Image via RivCo Sheriff