A Fairfax County judge on Friday denied bail for an 18-year-old Fairfax High School student charged with nine misdemeanor counts of assault and battery after parents alleged he touched multiple girls in school hallways, according to WJLA. Judge Dipti Pidikiti-Smith rejected a proposed release plan for Israel Flores Ortiz, saying it did not do enough to protect the public.
Ortiz, an 11th grader at Fairfax High School, is accused in a case parents say involved several female students. WJLA reported that prosecutor Jenna Sands told the court the alleged conduct went on throughout the school year. Parents told the station that girls said Ortiz approached them between classes and touched them between the legs and on the buttocks.
In court documents obtained by WJLA, the date of one of the offenses was listed as Feb. 25, 2026, with an arrest on March 7. The incident has upset many parents in the area because they said Fairfax County Public Schools did not adequately inform them about what students had reported.
Parents were also upset with an email sent by Principal Georgina Aye on March 12, which described the incident as “inappropriate touching” of the students’ buttocks. Families told WJLA that the wording did not match what students said happened and helped fuel harassment and bullying against some of the girls who came forward.
Fairfax County Public Schools issued a statement saying it could not comment on the matter because of federal and state laws, but said the safety of students and staff remains one of its top priorities.
According to WJLA, which cited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ortiz is a citizen of El Salvador who crossed the border in 2024. ICE lodged a detainer against Ortiz after his arrest, but Fairfax County law enforcement did not follow that request.
Parents have also questioned why Ortiz was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery instead of a more serious sex-related offense. School officials have not publicly said whether Ortiz would be allowed to return to class if he is released.
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