In Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, 33-year-old Alberto Cruz has been convicted of multiple charges, including aggravated assault, following a violent incident at his estranged wife's family barbecue. The conviction, handed down on February 28, 2025, includes charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. According to the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office, Cruz showed up uninvited to the event in May 2024, despite a no contact order due to a previous assault on his wife.
When asked to leave the barbecue, Cruz reportedly became violent, fracturing his sister-in-law's jaw and pushing his mother-in-law to the ground. Police officers, who were called to the scene, noted that Cruz smelled of alcohol and resisted arrest. The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller, while Public Defender Michael Light II represented Cruz.
Cruz's sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2025, and he faces state incarceration for the felony conviction. He also has pending charges for aggravated assault on an officer and simple assault involving his wife, as well as a recent aggravated assault conviction from Dauphin County. His criminal record includes convictions for corruption of minors in 2010 and unsworn falsification to authorities in 2013. District Attorney Pier Hess Graf emphasized the seriousness of Cruz's actions, stating, "Men who abuse women are vile predators who seek to oppress women through physical violence – which is never acceptable" as reported by FOX43.