More than two years after a California Highway Patrol officer found a former basketball coach in the Redwood City Elementary School District molesting a 14-year-old boy in his car at a rest stop off Interstate 280, the Menlo Park resident pleaded no contest to 11 counts of molestation involving five victims Tuesday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Menlo Park resident Julio Ortiz, 37, indicated interest in a plea deal five days into his trial, which began Jan. 30, and admitted to a prior DUI conviction last week. He is expected to be sentenced to 50 years in state prison when he next appears in court March 2, according to prosecutors.
Though Ortiz had previously pleaded not guilty to charges related to multiple instances of child molestation of at least four male minors, the 11 counts to which he pleaded Tuesday also include an incident with an adult woman, according to prosecutors.
The woman said in September of 2010 she arrived early for a teacher’s conference at her child’s school and was walking around the playing fields when Ortiz grabbed her from behind, turned her to face him and forced his hand down her pants, according to prosecutors.
Ortiz was arrested Sept. 18, 2015, after a CHP officer witnessed Ortiz orally copulating a 14-year-old boy in his car at the Vista Point rest stop off Interstate 280. The officer approached the car as it was still running, and Ortiz was also allegedly under the influence that night, according to prosecutors.
Ortiz, who has been held on $4 million bail, allegedly coached the first victim at Selby Lane School in Atherton, and after initial reports were filed, three other victims stepped forward, according to prosecutors.
He also formerly coached with the Sheriff’s Activities League before being arrested in Santa Clara County in 2014 for providing alcohol to a minor. Ortiz was let go at Selby and Clifford schools after the arrest.
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(1) comment
maybe not placing the subhuman in protective custody will cure the smirk on his face.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.