The woman attacked on the Prairie Spirit Trail in Anderson County last month says Porfirio de la Cruz tried to rape her. She says he clotheslined her as she passed by him on the trail, knocked her to the ground, and pounced on her in an attempt at forcible sex, he also stuffed fallen leaves in her mouth as she struggled, in an attempt to keep her from screaming. She says she believed de la Cruz intended to rape her, he is presently charged with felonies including battery, criminal restraint and mistreatment of an elderly person. She got away once, but he took her to the ground again. She kicked him away and he slid down the embankment, and she ran to a nearby house for help. She suffered facial and other cuts and scrapes but nothing life threatening.
De la Cruz was found a short time later on Highway 59, on his bike. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a hold on de la Cruz, an illegal immigrant, while in Anderson County custody. He is currently held on a $150,000 bond. De la Cruz is set for a status hearing in his case on November 26th.
