https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/lo...b2adf61aa.html
While one former Wilmington Area High School music director is waiting to stand trial on sexual assault-related charges, his successor at the same school is now also facing sex-related charges.
A district judge on Friday issued a warrant for the arrest of Olivia Lois Ortz, 26, of Hermitage, who is accused of having an inappropriate physical romantic relationship with a 17-year-old female student while Ortz was the Wilmington High School choral teacher.
New Wilmington Borough police on Friday charged Ortz with two counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a school student, and one count each of unlawful contact with a minor for sexual offenses and criminal use of a communication facility, all felony-level charges.
Ortz was at large throughout the weekend and sang in the Shenango Valley Chorale’s 50th anniversary concert Sunday in downtown Sharon before turning herself in to authorities Monday afternoon. She is the secretary of the chorale organization.
Borough police Chief Carmen Piccirillo, who conducted the investigation against Ortz, said she surrendered herself at the advice of her attorney. She was arraigned by District Judge Rick Russo, who committed her to the Lawrence County jail on a $150,000 bond, which she posted.
Her case follows a sex-related case filed in June 2020, by Lawrence County District Attorney detectives against Jonathan Priano, 37, the former band and music teacher at Wilmington High, who also is accused of misconduct with various students. Allegations are that he had an affinity for tickling the feet of his female students and having close, personal relationships with them.
When school officials learned of the allegations against Ortz, she was immediately suspended from teaching, initially with pay. She resigned from her position May 9 during the course of the investigation, according to Wilmington Superintendent Dr. Terence P. Meehan.