FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — A Texas teacher has been arrested in Fairfax County after driving over 1,500 miles to have illicit contact with a teenage girl he thought was in the area, according to police.
David Ortiz, 32, of Texas was arrested and charged with the production of child sexual abuse material, use of a communication device to solicit a minor, attempted indecent liberties with a minor, and eight counts of use of a communication device to solicit a minor (second or subsequent offense).
In December, Fairfax County Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU) detectives conducted Operation ADC Express 2 to crack down on child predators. During the operation, offenders used platforms on the internet to initiate sexual-related conversations with those they believed to be children. The offenders traveled to Fairfax County to commit sexual acts with the minor but were instead greeted by authorities.
Second Lieutenant Christopher Rekas, the supervisor of the Fairfax County Police Department's Child Exploitation Unit says investigators created a profile online and let it sit.
"They were approached online by this individual, and they communicated for several weeks with this individual. Things became sexual in nature. It started going into meeting up for sexual explicit stuff," said Lt. Rekas.
The chats began in December, and on Jan. 10, Ortiz told them he was traveling to Northern Virginia, and wanted to meet the teenage girl. On Friday, he was arrested by detectives.
It was later discovered that Ortiz is employed as a high school band teacher at the United Independent School District. Detectives are in communication with Texas authorities.
"It's very concerning. Obviously, he has access to kids and we've been in contact with Texas authorities as well as the school district that he was employed with. They are conducting their side of the investigation. The school will handle their side of it administratively however they choose to. We will be in communication with them with how our investigation is progressing," said Lt. Rekas.
The Fairfax County Police Department says Ortiz has He is currently being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on no bond.
"I can't stress it enough, it's so important for parents to be involved. We got a true predator I think off the streets and there's more out there. So, I just encourage parents to be involved in what their kids are doing online," said Lt. Rekas.
Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents or others with a similar nexus to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
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