Man arrested in Mexico for allegedly kidnapping, molesting girl in Pasadena motel

A man wanted for imprisoning a child and attempting to molest her at a Pasadena motel has been captured in Mexico with the help of U.S. Marshals and Mexican national police.

Robert James Ruiz, 48, was arrested last week by Pasadena police detectives on suspicion of false imprisonment and attempted child molestation.

The ex-convict is charged with holding an underage female against her will July 29 in a motel room and attempting to molest her. Her age was not released.

Ruiz, after learning he was wanted by police, called the detective handling the case and declared he had no intention of going back to prison and that he had left the area. Investigators tracked Ruiz to Mexico, where he was arrested without incident.

"Mr. Ruiz had an association with the victim's family and took advantage of this relationship" says Det. Lt. Tracey Ibarra of the Pasadena Police Department.

"This collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies to track and arrest Mr. Ruiz resulted in a dangerous second-strike criminal being taken off the streets," said Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office filed charges against Ruiz of attempted lewd acts with a minor, false imprisonment, child abuse and indecent exposure toward a minor. He is being held on $1.2-million bail.

-- Richard Winton

Comments

[curiousprl]

Typical.

[Jagexxx]

It's just so dang easy for criminals to waltz back and forth across our border.

[uncle_vito]

Sounds like another Roman Polanski wanna be.

[GEAH]

Was this fine gentleman in our country legally? Why doesn't the Times tell us?

Sorry, Times! As long as you leave out important parts of the story, I won't be spending $10 for a year of Sunday deliveries.

You need to deliver the facts!

[Tornadoes28]

I wonder if the loser is an illegal alien. Isn't this evidence enough why the borders need to be secure and be fortified?

[SWATK9]

They come here and commit crimes, yet they flee back to Mexico. This is disgusting.