Kenosha Business Owner Facing Over 100 Years In Prison For Serious Child Sexual Assault Charges

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Erick O. Mejia-Cruz (35) of Kenosha
(Kenosha County Sheriff)

A Kenosha businessman is facing multiple felony charges, including child sexual assault, possession of child pornography, and exposing a child to harmful material. If convicted, he could face over 100 years in prison.

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Erick Mejia-Cruz appeared in Kenosha County Circuit Court on December 2, 2024, where Commissioner William Michel II set his cash bail at $150,000. Mejia-Cruz has been charged with one count of repeated sexual assault of a child, sexual exploitation of a child through filming, possession of child pornography, and exposing a child to harmful material—each a felony offense.

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Allegations and Investigation

According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began on November 27, 2024, when a 13-year-old girl and her mother reported allegations of sexual abuse to the Kenosha Police Department. The girl disclosed that she had been in an ongoing sexual relationship with Mejia-Cruz, her mother’s former boyfriend, and that the most recent assault occurred that very morning.

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The victim was taken to Aurora Hospital for a forensic examination, and law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Mejia-Cruz’s residence, vehicle, and phone. Investigators gathered additional evidence, including clothing from the victim’s home.

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During an interview at the hospital, the victim detailed how the abuse allegedly began in January 2024 when Mejia-Cruz helped her mother secure a new residence. The victim stated that he initiated inappropriate contact, which escalated into sexual intercourse. She alleged that they engaged in sexual activity on numerous occasions at various locations, including Mejia-Cruz’s home, his car, and his business, Automotive Stylist, located on 52nd Street in Kenosha.

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The victim also disclosed that Mejia-Cruz filmed their encounters multiple times and that he had purchased explicit materials for her. She reported that the most recent assault occurred on the morning of November 27, 2024, when her mother dropped her off at Mejia-Cruz’s residence. She stated that she refused his advances, but he assaulted her despite her objections.

Suspect’s Admissions

Mejia-Cruz was taken into custody on November 28, 2024, at his residence. During an interview with law enforcement, he admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the victim but attempted to shift blame, claiming she initiated contact. He acknowledged filming some of the encounters and providing her with explicit materials. He also admitted that he was aware of the severity of his actions, acknowledging the significant age difference and recognizing that his actions were illegal.

Legal Proceedings and Community Response

Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that Mejia-Cruz posed a significant danger to the community. His bond was set at $150,000, and he remains in custody pending further court proceedings. If convicted on all charges, he faces a potential sentence exceeding 100 years in prison.

Authorities encourage anyone with information related to this case or similar incidents to contact the Kenosha Police Department.

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54 Responses

        1. not true! Many legal immigrants from Africa, South America, India, China, Philippines, Japan. MANY different races!

      1. Most are. You can’t call a business without pressing #1 for English or #2 for Spanish. This is America, one language, if you don’t understand English learn it. If not get the fuck out

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        1. If you’re looking at Hispanics as illegal then in your eyes you’d be right, most are. However Mexicans and Latinos may not agree to being Hispanics. My opinion is Hispanic covers anyone’s lineage descended from a Spanish speaking country. Hispanic to me is a word used by Caucasians in their effort to make racial separation acceptable.
          This is the United States of America raised on the taken lands of the Native Indians. Certainly the standards of who is illegally here can be argued but those standards were written by the same Caucasians that stole lands by broken treaties and war. One language, I highly doubt that to be a very accurate thought. Please before you order anyone to get the fuck out, take a good hard look at where your descendants came from.
          By the way try dialing these numbers all are 262, 652-1039, 653-4000 or even 654-0429 there is no option for pressing #1 or #2. Even if there was are you really so lazy you can not press one more button? What bothers me is not getting a living person without having to hear numerous options then being on hold before possibly hearing a human talking.

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            1. It so nice that you have but one point to debate, verbiage. I say taken lands and have expressed the reason by broken treaties and war. There are numerous broken treaties to support my point. Then again treaty was offered only as a way to stop fighting a nation that did not want to just surrender their beings. To further discuss the original post of, English only, the European wanders even expected the Native Indians to stop speaking their own languages and attempts to beat it out of them almost did just that. But I as usual ramble so please explain your statement of “conquered by the next guy”. Who did the Indiana conquer? They conquered no one, they crossed thousands of years ago across a land mass that no longer exists today and settled throughout the North America continent. “They made us many promises, more than I can remember. But they kept but one—They promised to take our land…and they took it.” Chief Red Cloud December 29, 1890
              https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/red-cloud-s-speech-after-wounded-knee

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              1. Do you really think someone is going to read your ramblings? Conquered land is all a part of civilization.

              2. Look
                At the history of Native Americans. They were often fighting each other in spite of some tribes were relatively peaceful.

    1. Your comment is as stupid as the mother of this helpless little child. Why would you think that calling ICE is the solution to this horrible situation. Do you not care that this animal will hurt other children!

    1. And we have a lake handy!

      Sorry, I wasn’t being culturally sensitive; grown men dating 13 year olds is common south of the border. My bad.

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    1. Agree. No way should she not have known. Maybe brought her there the last time before taking her to get evidence. Sad because there is no reason to drop her off at an ex’s house.

    1. … Gravely was the DA at the time of this guys arrest. Yet charges weren’t brought until now.

      Interesting as to why Gravely didn’t.

      Can anyone answer that ?

  1. The moment should also be charged. What mother would drop her 13 year old daughter off at her ex boyfriend’s house alone??? Absolutely disgusting.

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