Child Molester Gets Lengthy Prison Term

COBB COUNTY, GA -- An Austell man was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to child molestation charges on Monday, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office said.

Ivan Cruz, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated child molestation, five counts of child molestation, two counts of solicitation of sodomy of a child under age 18, and one count each of aggravated sexual battery and sexual exploitation of children.

Cruz admitted he had repeatedly molested a female family member at his home just off of Six Flags Drive, the DA’s Office said. Cruz said the assaults began when the victim was 11 years old.

Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II gave Cruz a life sentence, with a mandatory 25 year term behind bars before he could be considered for parole, according to the DA’s Office. If he is ever released, he will remain on felony sex offender probation and will likely be deported to Mexico.

“This guilty plea spares the victim from having to testify publicly, and it ensures the Defendant will spend the majority of the remainder of his life confined to a prison cell, unable to ever again abuse a child,” ADA Dave Williamson said. “If the Defendant is ever released, he will be an old man and hopefully deported from the United States.”