Irvine police arrest church camp counselor suspected of sexually assaulting 2 children

A Mission Viejo church camp counselor was arrested this week on suspicion of sexually assaulting two children during bus rides, police said Thursday, July 25.

Nicolas David Cruz, 19, was also fired from his part-time job at Mission Viejo Christian Church because of the alleged crime, Irvine police spokeswoman Kim Mohr said.

On Tuesday night, July 23, the mother of an 8-year-old from Mission Viejo told the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that her child had been sexually assaulted by Cruz on the ride home from a summer camp trip in Irvine. The case was turned over to Irvine police because of where the alleged crime occurred, Mohr said.

Cruz was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, jail records show.

While investigating the incident authorities discovered there was a second child who was victimized previously under similar circumstances. Mohr said another 8-year-old had been sexually assaulted also during a church camp bus ride July 18 in Buena Park.

Police declined to reveal the genders of the victims.

Detectives believe there may be other victims. Cruz began working at the church in December 2018 and worked with children between the ages of 5 and 11. During the summer he worked part time with children between 8 and 9 years old, Mohr said.

Anyone with information about Cruz or any other suspected crimes is asked to contact Detective Mudassar Mahmood at 949-724-7130 or mmahmood@cityofirvine.org.