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AZ's most-wanted man talks from behind bars

Posted at 8:20 AM, Dec 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-01 10:20:42-05

After being on the run for six years, one of Arizona's Most Wanted fugitives finds himself back behind bars.

Adrian Cruz, tried to skip out on a 35-year prison sentence. He took a plea deal after allegations serviced that he raped a 9-year-old.

Cruz was extradited by the U.S. Marshal's Office last week and is now being housed in the Special Management unit at the Fourth Avenue Jail. He's in solitary confinement in an area of the prison where the most dangerous and at-risk inmates are housed.

"I'm not that evil person that everyone is talking about," said Cruz.

Police says Cruz slept with a nine-year-old girl on two occasions in 2004. At least one of those times was in his ice cream truck. 

The victim became pregnant and was forced to have an abortion.

"I insisted that we go to trial," said Cruz.

But he claims his attorney forced him to take the deal. After five years behind bars, Cruz decided he did enough time.

"I took the chance that God gave me to get out in a clean way," said Cruz. 

In February 2009, Cruz walked out of the Maricopa County Court House unnoticed.

He started a new life in Mexico. He got a job as a mechanic and fell in love. He married and became a father of two children. 

Cruz says he didn't want to waste time behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

"I never touched her," said Cruz. 

But during his 2004 court case, he wrote a letter to the judge, expressing remorse for what he did to the little girl.

"I only wrote that letter because my attorney told me to. He said the judge might not give me the maximum sentence," said Cruz.

For the last six years, Cruz has lived in fear that police would eventually find him. He says he wife encouraged him to come back and fight to clear his name.

"I want the victim and her mom to tell the truth. I never hurt that girl," said Cruz.

Cruz says his wife knew about why he fled to Mexico before they got married. 

Cruz's next court date is December 2, 2015.