Eric Cruz-Figueroa

Eric Cruz-Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico. According to Cruz, he was sexually abused as a child.

Cruz had been communicating with a decoy posing as a fifteen-year-old boy. The Sheriff's Office did not have a male decoy so they had the female decoy wear a hoodie to disguise her just enough for Cruz to believe that she was a boy. He sat in his car for several minutes before walking into the house and being immediately arrested by police. Deputies interviewed him first before allowing Chris Hansen to conduct his interview. Cruz claimed that he did not know English so an interpreter was brought in to translate.

Cruz claimed in the Chris Hansen interview that he had been having problems with his boyfriend lately and wanted to "have some fun." Cruz claimed that he wanted to come over to verify the decoy's age, despite the decoy saying that he was fifteen, because he did not believe the pictures reflected a boy that age.

Cruz stated that if the boy's parents were home, he would have asked them for permission to have sex with their minor child. When asked why he was concerned about the parents, Cruz said that it was because parents often do not know what their children do.

He also stated that he did not come to the house with the intention of penitration.

Eric Cruz-Figueroa was indicted by a Grand Jury and charged with two felonies:

Importuning (soliciting a minor to engage in sexual activity) Possession of Criminal Tools

As part of a plea agreement, the felony charge of Possession of Criminal Tools was dismissed and he was convicted of Importuning. He was sentenced to up to five years of probation, facing no additional jail time.