Paul J. Ruiz, 26, Clintonville, is charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child.

On March 2, a 14-year-old girl and her mother met with Clintonville Police Officer Tyler Bartel.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother said her daughter has complained that she sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and finds Ruiz either sitting on or standing over her bed. The girl reported finding evidence that Ruiz had been masturbating.

When police questioned Ruiz, he said he has moved around a lot and has lived in Tennessee, Maryland and Alabama. Ruiz reportedly had no ID when police arrested him.

According to the criminal complaint, Ruiz told police the incidents the girl reported may be something spiritual. He said he heard sounds of someone creeping around the house and that is why he went into the girl’s room. Investigators also said Ruiz claimed two pictures inexplicably fell off the wall, and he wondered if anyone had died in this house before the girl’s mother moved there.

Ruiz faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of sexual assault of a child. He remains in custody on a $50,000 cash bond.