Springfield man pleads not guilty to charge related to touching child inappropriately

Gabriel Ortiz is arraigned in Clark County Municipal Court Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Gabriel Ortiz is arraigned in Clark County Municipal Court Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

A Springfield man who was charged after an alleged incident regarding sexual contact with a child has been arraigned in the Clark County Municipal Court after the case was continued for an interpreter.

Gabriel Ortiz-Sanchez pleaded not guilty to gross sexual imposition, according to court records. His $10,000 bond was continued and he remains in the Clark County Jail as of Friday morning.

The incident was reported on July 22 by the child victim’s mother who said Ortiz-Sanchez allegedly had sexual contact with her child in the backyard of a Springfield house, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

When detectives interviewed the child on July 31, she said Ortiz-Sanchez wrapped his arms around her and picked her up off the ground, placing her between him and the house, then touched her chest, the affidavit said.

Detectives also spoke with a witness who said he saw the incident while he was in the backyard letting his dog out.

Detectives later talked to Ortiz-Sanchez on Aug. 20 about the incident, giving him a polygraph test.

“The examination concluded Ortiz-Sanchez was not truthful,” the affidavit said. “Ortiz-Sanchez stated he has accidentally touched the child victim’s (chest) before but that never happened in the backyard. He stated his “version” is that this didn’t happen but in their (child victim and witness) “version” it did.”

Ortiz-Sanchez was then arrested the afternoon of Aug. 20 and charged with gross sexual imposition, a felony of the fourth degree.

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