Posted 10:31 PM 7/5/2012 : Warrant reveals new info about 53-year-old with freshman student
TUCSON - New details have surfaced regarding a former Tucson High School wrestling coach accused of sexual misconduct with a student.
Last Saturday, Pima County Sheriff's deputies found Richard Ortiz, 53, and a 15-year-old student parked in a van on the South Side. He was booked on Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
Ortiz left the wrestling program in January, but he reportedly continued privately tutoring the girl, who is a member of the team.
In a transcribed copy of a telephone call, an investigator explained to a judge why he needed a warrant for this case.
A deputy found "Richard Ortiz seated in the driver's seat of a Kia Sedona, shirtless. A female subject, also shirtless, was found in the rear of the van," the report stated.
When the deputy talked to Ortiz, he said "the female subject, [...], was 18 years of age. [The victim] provided the birth date of 1996."
The numbers did not add up. He eventually found out the girl was only 15.
The victim admitted Mr. Ortiz removed her shirt and bra, according to the report.
The report also stated Mr. Ortiz admitted to the deputy that he caressed the girl's breast.
She said they did have intercourse and stopped, due to headlights observed from an oncoming vehicle, the report stated.
Later in the investigation, Mr. Ortiz denied that any physical contact between himself and the victim occurred. He suggested that he might consider invoking his rights for representation and the interview was immediately concluded, according to the report.