On Monday, Patrick Battillo, the Phoenix Suns superfan known in the stands as “Mr. ORNG,” changed his plea in Maricopa County court and admitted guilt to three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The plea deal sets a sentencing hearing for April 17 and marks a steep fall for a man who once painted himself orange for Suns games and was later accused of soliciting sexual images from students at Peoria High School.
Plea deal and charges
Battillo pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor as part of a plea agreement, according to Arizona's Family. Court records cited by the outlet show he originally faced seven counts. Investigators say messages were sent to several students asking for sexually explicit photos or videos in exchange for money. Documents also allege Battillo at times presented himself as a go-between, telling at least one teen he could sell the material to an older woman.
Investigation and earlier indictments
The case began after a student reported messages to school staff, which set off a police investigation that led to Battillo's arrest and an arraignment where he initially pleaded not guilty, according to reporting by FOX 10 Phoenix. A grand jury later returned additional counts, and the station reviewed portions of the indictment that describe offers of payment via Cash App and solicitations for explicit material. Those successive indictments and the eventual plea have all moved through Maricopa County courts.
School response and community reaction
Peoria Unified's school board voted to fire Battillo and backdate his dismissal to two days after his arrest, the district told ABC15. At the district meeting that followed his arrest, parents and local advocates pushed for more transparency and called for tighter safeguards around coaches and student supervision. School officials have said they are working with investigators and have made counseling resources available to students.
Who was Mr. ORNG?
Battillo spent more than a decade as a visible Suns superfan, painting himself orange and suiting up as “Mr. ORNG,” a routine featured in local profiles of die-hard supporters by outlets such as Phoenix New Times. Away from the arena he worked with student athletes at Peoria High School, which is part of why the criminal charges hit the school community so hard. The plea resolves one phase of the case but leaves sentencing and future court filings to spell out the final terms of his agreement with prosecutors.
Legal implications
Under Arizona law, luring a minor for sexual exploitation and sexual exploitation of a minor are treated as serious felonies. Luring a minor is classified as a class 3 felony, and sexual exploitation of a minor is codified as a class 2 felony in A.R.S. §13-3553, according to the Arizona Legislature and the Arizona Legislature. Battillo's sentence will be set at the April 17 hearing, and those statutory classifications mean any convictions carry prison exposure and long-term collateral consequences, including sex-offender registration and limits on certain types of employment. Prosecutors' filings and the judge's final order will detail the exact terms of the plea and the sentence recommendation to the court.
