PHOENIX, AZ — A Phoenix man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after luring a 13-year-old girl he met on social media, then sexually assaulting her in her room.
In November 2016, Mario Christian Perez Ortiz posed on social media as a 16-year-old boy. The 20-year-old attracted the attention of a 13-year-old girl who was also posing as a 16-year-old.
Ortiz sent sexually explicit messages to the girl, enticing her to sneak him into her home.
One night while in her room, Ortiz began sexually touching the girl. The girl tried to leave, but Ortiz stopped her, telling her to "shut up and stop crying" as he sexually assaulted her.
In June 2017, Ortiz contacted the girl again and attempted to lure her for sexual activity. This time, he was caught by police as he was running from the girl's home, near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road.
In January 2018, Ortiz pleaded guilty to attempted sexual conduct with a minor and attempted child molestation.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and given lifetime probation upon his release in November 2025.
