Israel Flores-Ortiz, 18, was sentenced to 360 days of active incarceration for assaulting several underage girls at Fairfax City High School.
With calculations for a misdemeanor and time served, he has about 140 days left in prison.
Flores-Ortiz was arrested on March 7. He was charged with nine counts of assault and battery of fellow students at the school. He received his sentence Tuesday at the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
“I think it sends a strong message that you don’t touch people in inappropriate ways. And I’ll say it’s not just in a school setting — on a Metro, at a concert, at a mall, no matter what” said Demetry Pikrallidas, the attorney for one of the victims.
Flores-Ortiz is an unregistered immigrant from El Salvador, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
“Regardless of what somebody’s [citizenship] status is, our job is to hold people accountable when they hurt people, and that’s what we do,” Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said after the sentencing.
Flores-Ortiz will have 10 days to appeal the verdict.
FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid addressed the issue on March 23. She announced that the school had hired an independent law firm to conduct a review of the incidents. “I want to be clear that such behavior is unacceptable in Fairfax County Public Schools,” Reid said in the statement.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
