Beach Park man accused of sexually abusing mentally disabled woman

Alfredo De La Cruz from Beach Park

A Beach Park man accused of sexually abusing a mentally disabled woman is now facing multiple felony charges, authorities said.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Alfredo De La Cruz, 70, of the 10200 block of West Fairbanks Avenue, was taken into custody Tuesday following an investigation by Lake County Sheriff’s investigators. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a mentally disabled person; two counts of criminal sexual assault; and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a mentally disabled person.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a hospital on May 17 after a woman who knew De La Cruz reported that her daughter had been attacked by him, the statement said.

Investigators learned that the daughter was nonverbal. However, the mother became suspicious of De La Cruz and installed a recording device to monitor her daughter, officials said. She found a video in which De La Cruz forced her daughter to perform sexual acts.

Authorities said investigators also managed to obtain a search warrant and secure evidence related to the crime in De La Cruz’s home.