Athens man accused of assaulting child

By Kevin O’Brien

A 37-year-old Athens man was arrested last week and charged with sexual assault of a juvenile following an investigation by the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department.

Erick Antonio Ruiz Cortez faces multiple felony charges, including repeated sexual assault of the same child (at least three violations of first-degree sexual assault), causing a child under 13 to view/listen to sexual acts; exposing genitals/pubic area/intimate parts to a child and physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing bodily harm.

The CAPD contacted U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) concerning Ruiz Cortez, and an ICE detainer has been placed on him – meaning that he could be subject to deportation – according to a press release by police chief Alex Bowman.

Ruiz Cortez is currently being held at Clark County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The sexual assault/physical abuse was first reported on Jan. 13 by the victim’s classmate. The school counselor and School Resource Officer spoke to the student and victim, and the victim’s family was also contacted.

Clark County Social Services, along with the CAPD, arranged for an interview with the victim at a child advocacy center (CAC), and “arrangements were made to ensure the safety of the victim,” according to the CAPD’s press release.

“It was determined, during the interviews and the CAC forensic interview, that the victim was being sexually assaulted and physically abused by the suspect, who is the boyfriend of the victim’s mother,” the press release states. “The assaults occurred when the mother was not at home and the victim was threatened by the suspect to not tell anyone.”

Ruiz Cortez was arrested after the CAPD “completed a thorough investigation” of the accusations, the department said.

Ruiz Cortez’s initial appearance in Clark County Circuit Court is scheduled for March 3.

Erick Antonio Ruiz Cortez