Police say mom was threatened, child pregnant Holly Johnson The Arizona Republic Jun. 30, 2004 12:00 AM A Maryvale man suspected of sexually assaulting and impregnating a 9-year-old Phoenix girl lured the youngster into his ice cream van and threatened to kill her mother if the child told, police said. Adrian Cruz Gonzalez, 22, reportedly knew the child's mother and would take the girl along as he sold ice cream in west Phoenix neighborhoods, Phoenix police Detective Tony Morales said. Police believe Gonzalez assaulted the child at least once in his van and at his apartment in the 4600 block of West Hubbell Street. The girl eventually told her mother, who reported the incident to police, Morales said. Medical tests confirmed the girl is pregnant, but carrying the baby to term could be life-threatening, police said. Gonzalez was booked Tuesday into Madison Street Jail and faces two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and two counts of kidnapping, Morales said. Other charges are pending. Arizona has about 9,000 registered sex offenders, according to the Department of Public Safety. Phoenix police reported 272 sexual assaults from January to May 2004. http://www.azcentral.com
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