Erick Antonio Ruiz Cortez
NEILLSVILLE, WI (WSAU) — An Athens man accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s child has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading no contest to a felony child abuse, causing great bodily harm.
Erick Antonio Ruiz Cortez was originally charged with four felony counts, including repeated sexual assault of the same child and physical abuse of a child. Investigators say he was sexually assaulting the victim while their mother wasn’t home, then threatening them to keep quiet about the incidents.
That led to additional charges for repeated sexual assault of the same child, causing a child to listen to a sex act, and exposing genitals to a child. Those counts were dismissed but read into the record as part of a plea deal, meaning they could be considered at sentencing.
Terms of his sentence also include five years of extended supervision and a full no-contact order with the victim and their mother. He will also undergo a psychiatric evaluation and will not be allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless approved by his agent.
He had been facing up to 91 years in the state prison system on all charges.
The situation came to light in January 2025 when the victim told another student, who informed authorities. That led to a series of interviews with law enforcement and child advocacy teams.
The 38-year-old was arrested a few weeks later and formally charged on February 6th, 2025. He was given credit for just over 16 months served in jail awaiting trial.
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