Cottage Grove woman charged with sexual activity with boy she had cared for

A Cottage Grove woman is accused of engaging in repeated sexual activity with a teenage boy she had cared for and babysat.

Desiree D. Cruz, 29, is scheduled to appear in Washington County District Court next week on charges of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, both felonies, for allegedly engaging in sexual activity and penetration with a boy during a two-year period. The alleged incidents began when the victim was 15 and Cruz was 26. Cruz had cared for the boy from when he was age 8 to when he was 10 years old. She regularly watched him and his siblings at her Cottage Grove home.

Most of the sexual activity occurred at Cruz’s home, according to a Washington County District Court criminal complaint. The alleged victim’s mother grew suspicious of their relationship after friends told her about interactions between Cruz and the boy.

Cottage Grove police interviewed Cruz last November and she admitted to having cared for and babysat the alleged victim. She said he gave her back rubs, but she denied there was sexual contact. The boy had told police back rubs were code for sexual activity between them, the complaint says.

Later, the boy’s mother provided police with voicemail messages from Cruz in which she apologizes to the mother for engaging in sexual acts with the boy.

Police interviewed someone who had lived at Cruz’s home and said he suspected Cruz and the boy were in a relationship.

Cruz has an initial court appearance scheduled for Wednesday, June 13. A judge forbid her from having any contact with the victim. Cruz is currently on probation for a theft conviction in Ramsey County, according to state court records.

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime