Ex-worker accused of abuse
By Jimmy Chai
Daily Forty-Niner
A former Cal State Long Beach employee,
charged with sexual battery against a disabled employee, may have victimized
other disabled workers, said Det. Lisa Lasch of University Police during
Fridayís preliminary hearing.
During an investigation by campus police,
other Cal State Long Beach employees, besides the victim, complained to
police that Jerome Galvin Cruz, an ex-Parkside Commons worker, had inappropriate
encounters with them, Lasch testified in Long Beach Municipal Court.
Lasch said two other employees may have
been victimized.
Cruz, who was arrested on campus and charged
with oral copulation by force and sexual battery against a fellow employee
June 25, told police he did not have any type of sexual encounter with
any employee, Lasch testified.
The victim who has filed charges against
Cruz was victimized three times, Deputy District Attorney Leah Karr said
in court.
The victim, a 21-year-old male with a mental
disability, testified that Cruz detained him in a storeroom during the
last alleged incident. The defendant then gave oral sex to him by force,
the victim testified during the preliminary hearing.
After the incident, the victim spent time
with his friends and then went home and told his mother about what happened,
the victim testified.
Soon after, charges were filed with the
district attorney.
The victim is apart of a special-education
program that allows those with handicaps to work on campus, Lasch said.
The other employees claiming an encounter with Cruz are also apart of the
program.
During a police interview, Cruz explained
that he would horse play with his co-workers by tapping them on their front
and back side, Lasch said. The tapping is similar to the way athletes pat
each other after a good play, Lasch said.
Jack Fuller, Cruzís attorney, said in court
that all evidence was based on hearsay and asked the court to dismiss the
case.
Judge Richard W. Lyman denied the motion
to dismiss.
Karr added on Friday one more charge against
Cruz -- oral copulation against a disabled person.
Cruz was laid off after the incident, said
Roman Gulon, general manager of Forty Niner Shops Inc.
Cruz will arraigned Sept. 24 at Long Beach
Superior Court. |
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