In the early hours of November 8th, 2011 DeFuniak Springs Police responded to a call of sexual battery of a 12 year old child at a local apartment complex. When officers arrived, the victim’s mother advised that she had woke up early in the AM hours to find her live in boyfriend of eight years assaulting her child. She immediately called 911 and restrained the boyfriend from leaving the residence until police arrived.
Police Detectives identified the boyfriend as 46 year old Roberto Cruz-Betanzos. An extensive interrogation and investigation of this subject found that he was an illegal alien and was identified as a person of interest with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Detectives notified ICE that Cruz-Betanzos was in the custody of DeFuniak Springs Police. Physical evidence of the assault led to the arrest of Cruz-Betanzos.
Cruz-Betanzos was charged with felony sexual battery of a child 12 years of age by a caregiver. He is currently being held at the Walton County Jail on one million dollars bond. ICE agents responded to the jail and a federal detainer has been placed on Cruz-Betanzos.
Lieutenant Tilman Mears
Special Operations Division Commander
mearstf@defuniakspringspolice.net