SPOKANE, Wash. – David Cruz a 45-year-old was arrested on five different charges, including sexual exploitation. Cruz is suspected of using hidden cameras to film his girlfriend’s minor daughter for more than a year when she visited the home from her dad’s.
Officers first contacted Cruz in November of 2023, where they seized Cruz’s phone.
More than 120,000 files were extracted from Cruz’s phone. This was an old phone of Cruz’s that he used to view this explicit material.
Of those files, 3,147 met the criteria for a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, 200 of those files came from hidden cameras set up by Cruz in a bedroom and bathroom in his home.
The docs say he set up the hidden cameras to capture the 14-year-old daughter of his girlfriend when she changed and showered.
The girl lives with her biological father, and he provided a statement for a victim’s advocate to read in court. He asked for Cruz to never see his daughter again.
“We do not know yet how these violations committed by David Cruz will impact her life. She needs to feel safe and be able to go to school and thrive without David Michael Cruz being anywhere where he could possibly have contact with her,” The letter read.
The girl’s mother also spoke in court. She defended her boyfriend and asked the judge to release him.”
“When he makes a mistake, he is quick to acknowledge what has happened, despite what the ramifications may be,” she said.
The judge ruled not to release, holding him on a $50,000 bond, and issuing a sexual assault protection order that prohibits Cruz from coming in contact with the victim.
“When the mother and daughter have visitation, obviously that’s going to have to take place without you being present because the sexual assault protection order prohibits you from having any communication or contact,” the judge said.
