A 29-year-old Cottage Grove woman has been charged with two felonies after allegedly having a sexual relationship for two years with a boy who had previously been under her care.

Desiree D. Cruz faces charges in Washington County District Court of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct for the alleged offenses, which court documents say began when the boy was 15 years old and she was 26.

Cruz had been a personal care attendant for the boy from ages 8 to 10, to help with his emotional problems, and she later served as a babysitter for him and his siblings, court documents say.

The boy's mother and others began to suspect that there was a relationship between Cruz and the boy. Court documents say that Cottage Grove police Detective Tom Ueland listened to three voicemails by Cruz in which she apologized to the boy's mother, who had confronted her.

The boy's mother accused Cruz of "taking her son's innocence" and of leading him to think that Cruz actually cared about him, court documents say.

In the count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim age 13 to 15, Cruz is charged with sexual penetration of a minor over whom she held a position of authority. The second count, third-degree criminal sexual conduct, also involves the suspect being more than four years older than the victim and in a position of authority.

Cruz is currently on probation for theft and has prior convictions for harassing phone calls, disorderly conduct and interfering with a 911 call, records show.

JOY POWELL