Pastor convicted of sexually abusing boys

GOSHEN – The former pastor of the Newburgh Church of God was convicted by an Orange County Court jury late Friday on all counts of an indictment that charged him of abusing three young boys over a two year period.

The jury deliberated for 2½ hours before finding Humberto Cruz, 39, guilty of all the charges against him, the most serious of which was course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, said District Attorney Frank Phillips.

Those charges stem from contact with two boys who were under the age of 13 during the time of the abuse from July 2004 through July 2006, said Phillips.

He was also convicted of seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child involving lesser crimes against a third boy.

When sentenced in April, Phillips said Cruz could get 25 years in prison. Until his sentencing, Cruz was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant DA Julie Mohl, a member of the Special Victims’ Unit.