WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Analisa Sondergaard this week sentenced 55-year-old Lazaro Ortiz-Baez, of Coatesville, to 25¾ to 51½ years in prison for sexually abusing three girls under the age of seven between 2003 and 2011, announced Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan.
In May 2022, a jury found the defendant guilty of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and related offenses.
According to Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan, in April 2019, Southern Chester County Regional Police learned that a child was sexually abused by the defendant at his New Garden Twp home when she was six in 2008. In May 2019, investigators spoke with two other victims who said the defendant sexually abused them at the same location. One victim was five when the abuse happened from 2003 to 2004; the second victim was six when the defendant sexually abused her in 2011.
“These young and innocent victims were violated by a trusted adult. That is the tragedy of child sexual abuse – the fact that 90% of child predators are known to the victims,” said Ryan. The defendant acted with impunity and stole their innocence and deprived them of their childhoods. Judge Sondergaard’s sentence sends a clear message that this despicable behavior will not be tolerated. For the victims, who are now young women, your courage in coming forward is what ensured that justice would prevail.”
The conviction was the result of an investigation by the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department and Chester County Detectives. DDA Erin O’Brien and ADA Robert Goggin prosecuted the case.
Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313 if you suspect a child is being abused. Learn to recognize, react, and report child sexual abuse by taking a free virtual Stewards of Children workshop. Contact County Coordinator Elisa Mendoza at emendoza@chesco.org or 610-344-5576 for more information.
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