More charges against deputy

Detectives found child pornography at his home

Additional charges are being brought against the ousted Orange County deputy sheriff arrested last week for sending sexually explicit messages to a minor after detectives found child pornography in his home, according to the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office.

Charles Cruz, a patrol deputy since August 2021, was arrested Friday for inappropriately engaging with a minor while on the job.

His interactions with the victim began Feb. 19, when officials said he responded to a call about an object being thrown through the victim’s window. Later, authorities said, his interactions “became more inappropriate.”

The agency said investigators were examining the victim’s phone in connection to an unrelated sexual cyber-harassment case, in which the child was the victim. Detectives assumed the identity of the minor and caught Cruz sending sexually explicit texts to the minor’s phone, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Later, a search warrant executed by the Sheriff ’s Office discovered Cruz obtained and possessed child pornography in his home, OCSO said. An agency spokesperson said Cruz admitted to having child porn after deputies read his Miranda rights.

“These are no words to convey my disgust that someone who once wore an Orange County Sheriff ’s Office uniform was involved in this behavior,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. “My hope is that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Cruz was suspended immediately without pay and then fired. He faces 11 charges of possession of material depicting sexual performance by a child.