GARLAND, TX — A Dallas County jury has delivered a split verdict in a sexual assault case involving a meeting arranged through a dating app. Eusebio Contreras Cruz was found guilty of one count of sexual assault on March 26, 2026, stemming from an incident where the victim was intoxicated to the point of memory loss.
Following the conviction, Judge Audra Riley sentenced Cruz to 10 years in prison, which was probated for a period of 10 years.
The Dating App Meeting
The case centered on a first date in March 2024. The victim met Cruz at Gloria’s Restaurant in the Firewheel Town Center in Garland after connecting online. Surveillance footage from the restaurant showed the pair consuming several "sangria swirl" margaritas at the bar while waiting for a table.
According to testimony and evidence:
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Memory Loss: The victim reported having little to no memory of the evening after the first ten minutes at the bar.
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Impairment: Video footage from the restaurant and the victim's home captured her walking unsteadily, indicating significant intoxication.
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Conflicting Statements: Cruz admitted to a Garland Police Department detective that the two had sexual intercourse at the victim's home but claimed it was consensual.
The Verdicts
The prosecution, led by Trey Stock and Deborah Bankhead, presented evidence that the victim was legally incapable of consenting due to her level of impairment. The jury ultimately found Cruz guilty of sexual assault regarding the initial encounter that the victim could not recall.
However, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on a second count of sexual assault. This second allegation involved an incident the victim remembered—waking up just before midnight to find Cruz assaulting her—which the defendant denied.
Justice and Support
The investigation was handled by the Garland Police Department, with critical support provided by DA Investigator Abigail Cruz and Victim Advocate Andriana Sellers.
