Jesus Mora Cruz
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In-Charge Patrick Murray announce the arrest of Jesus Mora Cruz, age 27, from Paterson, New
Jersey. Mr. Mora Cruz was arrested without incident on July 24, 2025, after an investigation
conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit with assistance from
the Paterson Police Department. Mr. Mora Cruz is charged with one count of first degree
Attempted Murder; one count of second degree Aggravated Assault; one count of third degree
Aggravated Assault; two counts of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; two counts of third
degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact; one count of first degree Robbery; one count of first
degree Home Invasion Burglary; one count of third degree Terroristic Threats; one count of third
degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and one count of fourth degree Unlawful
Possession of a Weapon.
On March 26, 2025, the Paterson Police Department contacted the Passaic County
Prosecutor’s Office on a report of a home invasion. Thereafter, Prosecutor’s Office Detectives
interviewed the victim and multiple witnesses. The victim reported being awoken to an unknown
male on top of her holding a knife to her neck. The male proceeded to sexually assault her,
physically assault her and stole various items from her residence prior to leaving. The victim was
transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment for non-fatal stab wounds. The
subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Mora Cruz was responsible for the home invasion and
subsequent assaults.
The sentencing exposure on first degree Attempted Murder, first degree Robbery, and first
degree Home Invasion Burglary is ten to twenty years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the
sentence to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on second
degree Aggravated Assault it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the
sentence to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on third degree
Aggravated Assault, third degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, third degree Terroristic
Threats and third degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose it is three to five years
in New Jersey State Prison; and on fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon it is up to
eighteen months in New Jersey State Prison.
On July 30, 2025, the Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C., granted the State’s
motion for pre-trial detention pending trial.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this
incident or other incidents regarding this individual to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-
PCPO.
