A 52-year-old man faces up to nine centuries in jail on rape accusations after allegedly targeting single women and sexually assaulting their small children.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers originally issued an indictment against Keith Cruz in September, charging him with four charges of rape and six counts of gross sexual imposition after he allegedly sexually assaulted children aged four to nine. According to Powers, he would “gain access to his victims by having romantic relationships with their mothers or through temporary living situations.”
According to a June 26 news release from Loveland Police and the Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Cruz now faces 72 counts in Clermont County, including 36 counts of forceful rape against a child under the age of 13, as well as gross sexual imposition and sexual battery against the same child, pandering in a sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and pandering in obscenity involving a minor. Cruz may face up to 900 years to life in prison if convicted just of rape as per truecrimenews.
According to Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Tekulve, Cruz was “clearly targeting single women who had young girls and boys of whom he would be able to take advantage.” He further stated that Cruz “did not discriminate between genders; his only requirements were that it be a child.”
Cruz is still in the Hamilton County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in court in August.