An Orlando nurse who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old patient at a local behavioral health facility has been ordered to spend a decade in prison, after a judge on Saturday adjudicated him guilty. Fernando Ortiz-Marrero, 33, had been working at University Behavioral Center when he was convicted of lewd and lascivious touching and sexual assault on a client. Prosecutors say the case started when co-workers grew suspicious after seeing him leave a patient’s room under questionable circumstances.
Sentence and convictions
A judge sentenced Ortiz-Marrero to two consecutive five-year prison terms, for a total of 10 years, as reported by WKMG ClickOrlando. The outlet reports he was adjudicated guilty of lewd and lascivious touching of a minor and sexual assault on a client.
Allegations and arrest
Investigators say the 16-year-old girl had been brought to University Behavioral Center under Florida’s Baker Act when the abuse began. According to the arrest affidavit cited by WFTV, Ortiz-Marrero repeatedly escorted her into a bathroom, told her to undress, and then groped and kissed her. On June 28, he allegedly forced her to perform a sex act.
The arrest report says a co-worker first raised the alarm after seeing Ortiz-Marrero exit the teen’s room while adjusting his clothing, prompting a report to supervisors. Detectives charged him with multiple felonies, including battery of a minor in his custody, an offense that local reporting notes can carry a potential life sentence.
Facility response and where the victim was taken
University Behavioral Center told WESH that Ortiz-Marrero was fired and that the facility cooperated with the investigation. The center’s website lists its Orlando campus on Discovery Drive and reports that the teen was taken to AdventHealth East Orlando for evaluation and treatment. Officials and detectives have urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
Legal fallout
Because the teen was being held for an involuntary psychiatric examination under the Baker Act, state rules classify patients at receiving facilities as especially vulnerable and lay out strict requirements for supervision and reporting. The Baker Act allows short-term involuntary exams at designated facilities, and advocates say cases like this spotlight ongoing concerns about staffing and safeguards in those environments. More on the Baker Act and the obligations of receiving facilities is available from the Florida Department of Children and Families.
It is not yet clear whether Ortiz-Marrero plans to appeal. WESH reported that his attorney did not return requests for comment. For background on the initial arrest last summer, see initial charges at the behavioral center.
