The Irvine Police Department on Wednesday arrested a Mission Viejo man who committed lewd acts on a child he supervised while working as a part-time camp counselor at Mission Viejo Christian Church. Nicolas David Cruz, 19, was arrested at the church and taken to Orange County Jail, where he remains.
On the evening of Tuesday, July 23, the mother of an 8-year-old from Mission Viejo reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that the suspect sexually assaulted her child during the bus ride home from a summer camp outing in Irvine. The case was turned over to the Irvine Police Department because the crime occurred in Irvine.
Cruz’s employment with the church was immediately terminated.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims in this case. Cruz began working at the church in December 2018. During summer, he worked part time with children who are between 8 and 9 years old. During the previous school year, he worked with children ages 5 to 11 years old.
Police urge parents who believe their children may have been a victim to contact Detective Mudassar Mahmood at 949-724-7130 or mmahmood@cityofirvine.org.