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	Boy Says He Was Abused in His Church By Doyle Murphy Times Herald-Record July 3, 2009 http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090703/NEWS/907030348/-1/NEWS CITY OF NEWBURGH — It started, the boy told police, when the man came to him at the church and exposed himself to the boy. That was all, for the time being. During the next three years, the boy told police, Humberto Cruz would make him perform sexual acts that progressed to intercourse and threesomes with Cruz and at least one other boy at Cruz's home. City police arrested Cruz, 38, on June 24 on charges he committed a criminal sex act, a felony. He appeared Tuesday in City Court and was released pending the findings of a grand jury. Cruz and the boy met in 2006 at Iglesia de Dios, a Pentecostal church then located on Dubois Street. Cruz was moving up in the church, Bishop Joaquin Pena said Wednesday. He'd studied the Scriptures and, in keeping with church tradition, had begun teaching. Cruz's pupils were mostly young teenagers and younger.The boy was 10 years old at the time. The Times Herald-Record has withheld his name and the names of his relatives to protect his identity. His uncle said they noticed nothing wrong at the time but, looking back, he sees signs of trouble. Cruz used to call all the time, asking for the boy. "When are you coming to church?" he'd ask the boy, the uncle recalled. In December 2006, the boy moved to Florida to live with his mother. His uncle said it wasn't until he moved back this past May that his nephew told them about Cruz. By then, Cruz had rotated out of the teaching ranks to give other church members an opportunity to teach. Still, the boy said, Cruz quickly sought him out and forced him to perform oral sex on Cruz in a bathroom at the church's new building on Dickson Street. Pena said the church had no indication anything was wrong until a relative called. The church immediately began an investigation and relieved Cruz of all responsibilities. Pena said the church has cooperated fully with police. Church members have contacted everyone affected with an emphasis on ministering to the boys, their families and Cruz's family, Pena said. Eventually, they will try to minister to Cruz as well. "The most important thing is the process of the healing for the people involved," Pena said. Contacted by a reporter at his Newburgh apartment, Cruz declined to comment. The grand jury is due to convene on July 14. Newburgh police continue to investigate. Police are asking anyone with information to call 561-3131. Contact: dmurphy@th-record.com
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