Teen in US illegally sentenced to nearly a year in jail for groping girls at Fairfax High School

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - An 18 year old Fairfax High School student found guilty of groping several female classmates in school hallways earlier this year has been sentenced to nearly a year in jail.

Israel Flores Ortiz was charged as an adult but tried in juvenile court because most of the victims were minors. A judge on Tuesday sentenced him to 360 days of active incarceration. With time served and the calculations for a misdemeanor, he has 135 days left in prison, according to FOX News.

Authorities said Flores Ortiz is originally from El Salvador and is in the country illegally.

READ MORE: Illegal immigrant accused of sexual assault at Fairfax High School in court Thursday

He was originally accused of assaulting 13 female classmates and was found guilty in nine cases. He was acquitted in three, and one charge was dismissed.

An attorney representing one of the victims said the case has raised concerns as a federal immigration crackdown continues and among parents regarding safety in crowded school hallways. 

He said the focus at sentencing is accountability, protection and preventing similar incidents in the future.

Flores Ortiz is expected to face up to nine years in custody, though the attorney noted that misdemeanor sentencing guidelines could reduce that to about four and a half years. He will have 10 days to appeal the verdict.

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