From The Tribune staff reports
COLUMBIANA — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a man in connection to a child sex abuse case.
Sergio Anselmo-Cruz, 43, was arrested on Monday, March 29, 2021, by the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force. Anselmo-Cruz lives in north Shelby County, and he is accused of having inappropriate contact with two juvenile victims. Investigators said the victims were the children of a family friend.
“Following a thorough investigation, with the assistance of Shelby County’s Child Advocacy Center – Owens House, and the District Attorney’s Office, Anselmo-Cruz has been arrested on 13 felony charges related to the investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
The charges are three counts of sexual abuse first-degree, two counts of chemical endangerment of a child, two counts of contributing to the delinquency, dependency or need of supervision of children, two counts of rape first-degree, three counts of sexual torture of a child less than 12-years-old and one count of sexual torture using an inanimate object.
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego commented on the investigation, stating, “These reported crimes are atrocious in nature. Our Criminal Investigations Division has specially trained investigators who focus on sexual crimes. I have full confidence in these investigators to seek justice for these victims.”
Anselsmo-Cruz was booked into jail on bonds totaling $692,000.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information about the case to call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 670-6000. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, or on their website at www.crimestoppersmetroal.com.