Man charged with rape after allegedly sexually assaulting young girl in Washington County

Man charged with rape after allegedly sexually assaulting young girl in Washington County

(Washington County Sheriff's Office)


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ST. GEORGE — A man has been charged with felony rape after police say he sexually assaulted a young girl.

Jose M. Delacruz, 38, was arrested Thursday in St. George, according to an arrest report.

He was charged in the 5th District Court with four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, two counts of rape of a child, one count of object rape of a child and one count of sodomy on a child, all first degree felonies. He also faces a misdemeanor count of lewdness involving a child.

The child’s mother told investigators that she and the girl ran into Delacruz in a store.

"After that, the child was not happy," according to the report. "She was serious, quiet and depressed."

The mother told investigators she thought her daughter had something she wanted to tell her that she was holding back.

About a week later, the child told her mother she had been raped, according to the arrest report.

In forensic interviews, the girl told investigators there were at least 10 times when there was forcible sexual contact with Delacruz, according to the report. The child, now 9, said the assaults took place about four years ago, the report said.

The incidents happened when Delacruz volunteered to watch the child at her home while her mother was at work so the mother did not have to take the girl to day care, according to the report. He lived in the same house as the mother and child at the time, the statement said.

The child was interviewed on May 22, and police were initially told about the alleged sex offenses on May 7, according to the report.

In an interview with police, Delacruz admitted to having sexual contact with the child four times, according to the report. Delacruz’s initial court appearance is scheduled for May 29 in St. George.

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