Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Sheriff’s office has arrested a Beach Park man after he sexually assaulted a woman with an intellectual disability.

Police were alerted to the situation after the victim’s mother disclosed the information while being treated at a local hospital for a panic attack. After talking to the mother they learned she cleans for a home in Beach Park and normally brings her daughter with her and she waits in the living room while her mother cleans. Her daughter is a non-verbal, intellectually disabled adult. 

During one cleaning session, the mother noticed the homeowner, Alfredo De La Cruz, seemingly zipping up his pants while leaving he living room area where her daughter was. The mother put a recording device next to her daughter the next time they came over to clean, which later showed video evidence of De La Cruz forcing her daughter to commit sexual acts. 

The Lake County State’s Attorney approved charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault of an Intellectually Disabled Person, two counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of an Intellectually Disabled Person.

Lake County Sheriff’s officers arrested De La Cruz on May 21, and he is being held in the Lake County Jail.