Mother testifies in daughter's rape case

The trial continues for registered sex offender Duane Manuel Cruz, who is accused of raping and touching the breast, inner thigh and genitals of a girl he knows.

Ten years ago, Cruz, now 33, was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for inappropriately touching a minor.

He faces higher charges in his latest case, an alleged lawsuit stemming from a complaint a girl filed less than two months ago.

The girl reported to police that Cruz forced himself on her during a visit to Cruz’s home in August 2023. The victim told police she told family members what happened, but they did not report it.

On Thursday, the victim’s mother took the witness stand. Prosecutor Grant Olan asked her about text messages between her daughter and Cruz. She recalled one in which Cruz addressed her daughter inappropriately.

“He sent her a message, he called her ‘Baby,’ and it didn’t sound like ‘you’re my baby,'” she said. “It sounded like ‘baby,’ like he was dating her.”

She later recalled another text message she saw on her daughter’s phone from Cruz that said, “Don’t tell (your) mom.”

She asked her daughter, “Don’t tell me what?” and her daughter replied, “Nothing.”

“I should have seen that as a warning sign, but because she couldn’t tell me what it was, it wasn’t clear to me what that message meant,” she said.

During cross-examination, defense attorney William Bischoff reminded the witness that just two weeks ago she told police she did not remember whether any of those text messages contained sexual innuendos, according to the police report.

“At that time I didn’t immediately remember everything. I have a problem because of the trauma caused to my brain. And when I remember those things, I know what I remember,” she said.

Bischoff then asked her if she had any personal knowledge or evidence that Cruz had abused the victim, and she replied no.

“Today I have no suspicions,” she said. “Mr. Bischoff, I believe my daughter. And I don’t doubt her at all…I’m starting to wake up and know it’s true.”

Cruz’s trial will resume Friday morning in the courtroom of Supreme Court Justice John C. Terlaje.

Pacific Daily News reporter Jojo Santo Tomas covers all topics of interest, including sports. Email him at [email protected].