Man accused in Peters Township rape absconds
A Pittsburgh man accused of raping a woman during a December 2013 holiday party in Peters Township apparently fled the country.
Nicolas M. Ortiz, 20, of 237 Edgewood Ave., was supposed to appear for a hearing Oct. 17 before Washington County Common Pleas Judge Gary Gilman. Ortiz failed to appear, and Gilman issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Recently, Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman said her office learned Ortiz fled to his native Bolivia. Ortiz, who is not a U.S. citizen, was here with his father and stepmother and was attending Duquesne University.
Clingerman said Ortiz’s father is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Local authorities, fearful Ortiz might abscond, were successful in their efforts to secure his passport, Clingerman said.
Officials are unsure how he was able to leave the country. Clingerman said an investigation is ongoing.
U.S. marshals have taken over the case, Clingerman said. She said U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was notified, and Ortiz’s passport was flagged.
Bolivia refused to extradite Ortiz because officials there found fault with the way the United States handled the Edward Snowden situation, Clingerman said.
Snowden is an American computer professional who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency.
If Ortiz returns to the United States or travels to another country that will extradite him, he will be arrested.
Ortiz is accused of raping a young woman at a holiday party. Clingerman said the victim was drinking and decided she needed to go to bed.
She said she awoke to find Ortiz on top of her.
Clingerman said the victim immediately reported the alleged incident to police.
Ortiz was charged with rape of an unconscious person and sexual assault.
Peters Township police handled the initial investigation. Peters Township police Sgt. Robert Kemp said the department is doing everything it can to bring Ortiz to justice.
He declined further comment.