Sheriff's Detectives Link Suspect to Several Lewd Acts

Carpinteria- August 17th, 2010

Sheriff’s detectives who arrested a Carpinteria man for lewd acts following an undercover decoy operation have now linked the suspect to nearly twenty separate crimes.

Sheriff’s detectives arrested Jorge Luis Ortiz (DOB 8/4/88) on Monday, August 9, 2010, after Ortiz committed a lewd act in front of an undercover deputy (see attached news release #10-119). Since that time, Sheriff’s detectives have interviewed more than a dozen potential female victims who have identified Ortiz as the man who would masturbate as they walked on the sidewalk in Carpinteria.

In one case, Ortiz is suspected of attacking one of his victims (see attached news release #10-113) who has now identified Ortiz as her attacker. Ortiz was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. He is currently being held on a no bail immigration hold. Sheriff’s detectives are recommending the District Attorney file multiple charges of Lewd Acts in Public (647(a) PC), Indecent Exposure (314.1 PC), and Sexual Battery (243.4 PC); all are misdemeanors.

Sheriff’s detectives are seeking anyone else who may have been victimized by Jorge Ortiz. Any information can be left anonymously on the Sheriff's Tip Line: 805-681-4171 or callers may contact Sheriff’s detectives at 805-684-4561.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org