Mullica man convicted of sexually abusing 13-year-old

Marcelino Cruz, 35, will have to serve his entire sentence and will not be eligible for parole because he was already on life probation at the time of the crime, the public prosecutor’s office said in a press release on Wednesday.

After his release, Cruz will remain on probation and will be registered as a sex offender for life under Megan’s Law.

A jury found Cruz guilty on Feb. 7 of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child through sexual conduct and possession of child sexual abuse material based on an item found on his phone.