NJ Man Met Girl, 11, On Social Media, Sexually Assaulted Her, Police Say

ASBURY PARK, NJ — A North Jersey man was arrested and criminally charged with luring an 11-year-old girl out of her Asbury Park home by threatening to disseminate partially nude images of her. He then sexually assaulted her in his car, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said Thursday.

Adolfo A. Cruz-Garcia, 23, of Haledon in Passaic County is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree child endangerment, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree aggravated sexualextortion, second-degree sex assault and third-degree endangering.

Cruz-Garcia met the 11-year-old girl on Oct. 2, through social media, said the prosecutor.

Despite being aware of her age, he asked for photos of her in a state of undress and offered her money in exchange for the performance of sexual acts, said the prosecutor.

Several hours later, that same day, Cruz-Garcia arrived at the girl's home in Asbury Park and threatened to share the photos with her family and friends if she did not come outside, said the prosecutor.

He lured her into the rear of his vehicle, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her before dropping her back off near her home, said the prosecutor.

Cruz-Garcia was arrested without incident Tuesday near his home in Haledon. His first court hearing is Oct. 26. The Monmouth County Prosecutor will ask a judge to keep him in the county jail while the criminal case against him proceeds.

Anyone with information about Cruz-Garcia’s activities is urged to contact MCPO Detective Stephanie Regina at 732-431-7160, Ext. 8791 or Asbury Park Police Department Detective Terrence McGhee at 732-502-5781.