South Sioux City man bound over to District Court

HARTINGTON — A 59-year-old South Sioux City man has been bound over to District Court on sexual assault charges against a teenage girl.

Guillermo Coronado Ortiz is charged with engaging in sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl at Lake Yankton and with providing her with alcohol.

Cedar County Court Judge Douglas Luebe found reasonable cause at Wednesday’s Preliminary Hearing to send Ortiz’s case on to District Court.

Former Cedar County Deputy Sam Vacha testified at Wednesday’s hearing that he received a report of an older man “making out with a younger girl,” on the beach in Cedar County.

Upon arriving at the scene, Vacha said he spoke to witnesses who said they saw him, “making out with her and giving her inappropriate touches.” He said witnesses also believed he was giving her alcohol.

Vacha said after he ordered the pair out of the water, he noticed she “seemed to be having issues with balance.” He said he also smelled alcohol on her breath.

After interviewing the pair separately, Vacha said he determined the girl had been sexually assaulted.

“She said he touched her everywhere,” Vacha said.

Ortiz was arrested and charged with:

• Two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, a Class 1B felony. Each charge carries a penalty of 20 years to life imprisonment.

• One count of committing intentional child abuse with no injuries, a Class IIIA felony, carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.