A Carmel Valley man who allegedly exposed himself to girls in his neighborhood over a 10-year period pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Rene Cruz, 27, who was arrested Monday, allegedly has flashed at least 17 students walking home from Solana Pacific Elementary School, Carmel Valley Middle School and Torrey Pines High School during the last decade, according to San Diego police.
The San Diego City Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting Cruz, said he additionally “targeted” Ashley Falls School, to the east.
Cruz is suspected of targeting the victims by pulling up alongside them in a white Toyota sedan or a silver Buick SUV and exposing himself through an open passenger-side door, Detective Michael Weaver said.
The City Attorney’s Office said “several search warrants obtained by the San Diego Police Department linked Cruz to the alleged incidents.”
Following Cruz’s arraignment on Wednesday, he was released from custody and placed on supervised release. Conditions include being monitored by a GPS tracking device, staying 100 yards from all San Diego County schools and having no contact or associations with minors.
Cruz currently faces two dozen counts due to his alleged acts. Police and prosecutors say they suspect there may be additional alleged victims and advised anyone seeking to report an incident to contact Weaver at mweaver@pd.sandiego.gov.
City Attorney Mara Elliott said in a statement, “For years, Cruz fixated on unsuspecting young girls leaving school for the day, seized their attention, and then exposed them to lewd conduct as they walked by. We believe there may be other victims since Cruz’s conduct occurred over a long period at numerous school sites. We encourage victims and witnesses to contact law enforcement so that justice is served.”
