LEBANON COUNTY JURY CONVICTS ALBERTO CRUZ OF VIOLENT ASSAULT AGAINST FEMALE FAMILY MEMBER

March 3, 2025

On February 28, 2025, a Lebanon County Jury convicted Alberto Cruz of Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct.  The Aggravated Assault is a Felony of the First Degree.  Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller prosecuted the case for the Commonwealth.  Public Defender Michael Light, II represented the abuser during trial.

Officer Erin Secoges of the Lebanon City Police Department filed the charges against the Defendant.  At the time of the assault, the Defendant was estranged from his wife.  A no contact condition was in place from a prior assault on his wife and prevented any contact between the Defendant and his wife.  Despite this, the Defendant appeared uninvited at a barbeque hosted by his wife’s family. When confronted and told to leave, the Defendant lashed out and became violent.  He punched his sister-in-law in the face; medical records showed the sister-in-law sustained a fracture to her jaw.  He also attacked his mother-in-law and pushed her to the ground.  Police responded and attempted to arrest the Defendant.  The Defendant smelled of alcohol and actively fought police during arrest.  Sentencing is set to occur on May 7, 2025.  The Defendant faces state incarceration as a result of the Felony conviction.

The Defendant has pending charges for Aggravated Assault on an Officer and Simple Assault with  his wife as the victim.  This is a separate incident from the trial conviction.  His background shows a recent Aggravated Assault conviction from Dauphin County.  He also had convictions for Corruption of Minors in 2010 and Unsworn Falsification to Authorities in 2013. 

“The fact that some men still find it acceptable to hit women defies explanation.  Any time this defendant is confronted with authority, he lashes out physically,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller.  “Men who abuse women are vile predators who seek to oppress women through physical violence – which is never acceptable,” said District Attorney Pier Hess Graf.