Mauro Martin Ortiz entered a plea of not guilty today in an appearance this afternoon before Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura.
Nakamura maintained Ortiz’s bail of $1 million, and ordered him to appear for trial at 9 a.m. on May 12.
Ortiz is a Mexican citizen who was living in Hawaii as a resident alien at the time the alleged assault occurred.
According to the indictment issued by a grand jury in 2008, the victim was either 14 or 15 at the time of the assault.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Darien Nagata said Ortiz was living in an outlying area of Mexico City when he was arrested by Mexican national police on Jan. 23, 2013.
It took exactly one year to traverse the various diplomatic channels necessary to extradite him back to the US to face trial.
Posted 1:47 p.m.:
A former Puna man wanted for the alleged sexual assault of a female minor nearly six years ago has been arrested after being brought back to the Big Island from Mexico.
Mauro Martin Ortiz was indicted in 2008 by a grand jury for the alleged assault which took place on June 21 of that year in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
He was brought to the Big Island by US Marshals on Thursday. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping, seven counts of first-degree sexual assault and five counts of third-degree sexual assault.
His bail was set at $1 million pending an initial court appearance.
Ortiz had been featured on numerous episodes of the “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” show carried on public access television.
This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments
