By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — A Mexican national who was in the country on an expired work visa was arraigned in court Friday on multiple charges stemming from a home invasion and sexual assault of minors in Sturgis.
Miguel Hernandez-Ruiz, 25, was arraigned in St. Joseph County 3B District Court Friday, April 19 on one count of home invasion and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct on a person under the age of 13. He is currently in the St. Joseph County Jail without bond and is also on an immigrant detainer.
Police claim that on March 20, Hernandez-Ruiz allegedly broke into a home in the Sweet Lake Mobile Home Park near Sturgis and sexually assaulted two girls under the age of 13. The suspect fled the scene and the state afterward, with investigators identifying the suspect and the vehicle he was driving. Following the 12-day investigation, Hernandez-Ruiz was later traced to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was arrested on April 3.
In a press conference Friday, St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said Hernandez-Ruiz was a Mexican citizen who was residing in Sturgis after coming to the United States in 2021 on a work visa, which had expired in December 2021. Bingaman said he had continued to live in the Sturgis area after the visa expired.
St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin did not reveal if there was a motive in the case, whether Hernandez-Ruiz was familiar with the victims or vice versa, or if it was a random incident, saying that it would be brought up in trial. However, he did mention that the presumption of innocent-until-proven-guilty still applies in this case.
“I want to remind everybody that anybody who’s in our justice system, there is a presumption of innocence, and that’s no different with this case,” Marvin said. “We’ve got an individual who is now in custody, but the Fifth Amendment protects him, and I have the burden as the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt anything that I’ve charged him with.”
If Hernandez-Ruiz is found guilty, Bingaman said he would serve time in the United States first before being deported back to Mexico.
Bingaman said his deepest concern about the case were the victims who were sexually assaulted.
“We had a couple of minors who were sexually assaulted, and so for them and their families, our thoughts are with them,” Bingaman said. “It’s our intention for crime victims to seek justice and to reassure our community that they’re safe and secure.”
Hernandez-Ruiz’s next court date is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 at 8:30 a.m. in 3B District Court in front of Judge Robert Pattison. He is represented by attorney Ross Truckey.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
“A Mexican national who was in the country on an expired work visa” was immaterial to this story. It was simply a dog whistle. Please do better Bob.