The Novato Police Department took to social media to announce the conviction and sentencing of Brett Ortiz, a convicted sex registrant from Novato, stating that he has been sentenced to 75 years to life for child sexual assault. The case, which drew back to April 2022 when a 13-year-old victim spoke with an NPD Detective, led to Ortiz's arrest in June of the same year after a detailed investigation assisted by Child Forensic Interview specialists unveiled necessary information about the assault years after it occurred.

Ortiz, who had a history of sexual offenses, including a conviction for a lewd act upon a child under 14 in 1989 and indecent exposure in 1999, was booked on multiple charges, which the jury found him guilty last Wednesday, the Novato Police Department posted. The post detailed Ortiz's progression from the initial arrest with the help of additional witnesses and evidence that established probable cause, which led to his recent sentencing.

In expressing their commitment to investigating sexual assault crimes, particularly those involving children, the Novato Police Department thanked several organizations, including the Jeanette Prandi Children’s Center and the Marin County District Attorney's Office, for their support during the investigation, especially in assisting the victim and their family.