Cruz, 26, allegedly snatched the girl off of her bicycle and took her to a house in the 700 block of Sycamore Street, where he raped her, authorities said. He later fled the country to Mexico and was captured by authorities there earlier this year.
He was indicted by a Butler County grand jury in December 2005 on four counts of rape and a charge of kidnapping.
Hawkins said he has received a file of evidence and photos from Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McElfresh. He said it is too soon to think about a plea, especially since his client continues to maintain his innocence.
“We’ve made our plea of not guilty and that’s not going to change,” he said. “I need to examine all the evidence the prosecution has and then I need to go over that with my client. That’s even more cumbersome than it would ordinarily be because my client doesn’t speak English.”
At his arraignment last month prosecutors asked there be no bond because of Cruz’s background of being a fugitive, but Spaeth set it at $750,000. Cruz has been in administrative segregation at the Butler County Jail since he was extradited Sept. 27, according to Butler County Sheriff’s Office Chief Tony Dwyer.
“We are looking at the progress of this case and whether he is amenable to cell with someone else,” Dwyer said. “We have not had any trouble with him.”
Public outrage over the crime sparked a week of unrest in the Fourth Ward neighborhood and heightened racial tension there in 2005. The Sycamore Street home where the alleged rape occurred was razed after being vandalized and twice set on fire.
The victim, now 15, has been adopted by another family and lives in the Greater Cincinnati area, sheriff’s officials said.
The girl’s biological father and grandmother have since moved to Oxford, according to their former Sycamore Street neighbors.
McElfresh said she cannot comment on the case.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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