GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The man who attacked a woman and her baby on the East River Trail has been sentenced to 42 1/2 years in prison, followed by 22 1/2 years extended supervision.
Miles Cruz, 18, pleaded no contest to four counts in connection with the Oct. 5, 2021, attack: sexual assault, kidnapping, strangulation and suffocation, and recklessly endangering safety. A count of attempted homicide was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Cruz was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim was walking on the trail with her son when the attack happened. Prosecutors allege Cruz put a sweatshirt over the victim’s head, pulling her backwards. The victim told police she fought to get away, but the attacker squeezed her neck, causing her to lose consciousness. However, she did remember being sexually assaulted.
“It was a completely random act of violence, and that is exactly what our average person is afraid of, and, sadly, for victim 1 and her baby, it was their reality,” Judge Tammy Jo Hock said.
Police found Cruz’s backpack in the area, and later found him, as well. He said he had slept in a nearby park in Allouez. DNA evidence tied Cruz to the victim, the criminal complaint says.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors capped their sentencing recommendation at 40 years in prison, followed by 15 years extended supervision. The defense only asked for a “fair” sentence, less than what prosecutors recommended.
The victim made a statement at sentencing, but Hock barred media outlets from recording it.
Cruz declined to make a statement.
