Introduction to the Case
A former California high school campus aide has pleaded guilty to sex crime charges after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student, prosecutors said.
Lisette Veles Ortega, 32, who was an employee of an outside contractor used by the Imperial Beach secondary school, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and oral copulation with a minor, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Background and Arrest
Ortega was arrested in May. At the time she was working at the Imperial Beach school, she was employed by Ro Healthcare, which the company’s website states is a medical staffing and home health agency that helps staff nurses at schools, correctional facilities and for private home care.
Ortega’s guilty pleas did not involve a stipulated sentence, the D.A.’s Office said. She is scheduled to be sentenced next month at the South County courthouse in Chula Vista.
Investigation Details
A student aide at Mar Vista High School has been arrested, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. NBC 7’s Omari Fleming reports.
Investigators were summoned by patrol deputies May 19, after being called about allegations against Veles, who was 31 at the time of her arrest.
Ortega was at Mar Vista as a contracted student support aide, but her employer is actually Ro Health, SDSO said in May.
Detectives concluded that they had probable cause that Ortega had oral sex with the victim, who is a minor, as well as sexual intercourse. Detectives at the time said the alleged incidents happened off campus during the past year.
Ortega was taken into custody off campus within San Diego County after school officials called SDSO on Monday to investigate, the sheriff’s department said.
Response from Ro Health
In May, Ro Health shared the following statement from its CEO Jeff Widmyer with NBC 7:
"At Ro Health, safety is our top priority. It is our privilege to serve the medically fragile population, and we are committed to doing so with the highest degree of care. As such, we take these allegations extremely seriously. We are doing everything we can to investigate the issue and to respond appropriately.
"We hold student safety as paramount to our mission. Ro Health has a Joint Commission approved employee screening process. In addition to validating competency, we conduct thorough background checks, including DOJ and FBI fingerprint clearance."
Conclusion
The case of Lisette Veles Ortega highlights the importance of thorough background checks and employee screening processes in educational institutions and healthcare agencies. It also emphasizes the need for prompt action when allegations of misconduct arise, to ensure the safety and well-being of students and minors.
FAQs
Q: What charges did Lisette Veles Ortega plead guilty to?
A: Ortega pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and oral copulation with a minor.
Q: Where was Ortega employed at the time of the alleged incidents?
A: Ortega was employed by Ro Healthcare, an outside contractor used by the Imperial Beach secondary school.
Q: What is the expected outcome of Ortega’s guilty pleas?
A: Ortega is scheduled to be sentenced next month at the South County courthouse in Chula Vista.
Q: How did Ro Health respond to the allegations against Ortega?
A: Ro Health stated that safety is its top priority and that it takes the allegations extremely seriously, and is investigating the issue and responding appropriately.
