A former elementary school coach on the Peninsula is facing charges for performing a sex act on a 14-year-old boy.
The arrest of Julio Edgardo Ortiz has sparked concerns from parents at three schools where he had contact with other students.
Parents at Clifford Elementary said they got an e-mail from the district on Wednesday informing them of the former coach's arrest. Ortiz, 35, was a popular coach with lots of access to kids, according to parents.
"Right now I am very nervous and concerned this happened," said parent Martha Celis, who met Ortiz at Garfield Elementary School.
Celis said Ortiz was a popular basketball and flag football coach in the Redwood City school district. In addition to Clifford and Garfield schools, Ortiz coached at Selby Lane in Atherton.
He also volunteered his time as a coach with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League.
Ortiz was terminated from all those agencies in 2014 after being arrested in Santa Clara County for furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the sheriff's office.
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California Highway Patrol officers said they found Ortiz sexually assaulting a boy on Friday. The CHP officers were patrolling Interstate 280, just south of Highway 92 in San Mateo, when they stopped to check the rest stop known as "Vista 3" and found Ortiz and the boy in a vehicle, officials said.
The area overlooks the Crystal Springs reservoir.
Ortiz is a Redwood City resident. He was arrested and booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City. Ortiz faces charges of oral copulation with a minor under age 16, oral copulation with a minor with 10 years difference and child endangerment.
Additional investigation is underway for other possible victims.
Ortiz was arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court on Tuesday and is being held on $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 29.
Anyone who may have any information regarding this incident or similar incidents involving Ortiz is asked to call Detective Dan Hoss with the Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at 650-363-4066 dhoss@smcgov.org or the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700.
