SMETHPORT — A Port Allegany man will serve six to 12 years in state prison for three criminal cases related to the sexual abuse of children.
Gage Ortiz-Rodriguez, 22, of Port Allegany, was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court before President Judge John Pavlock. Rodriguez has credit for 607 days of time served.
In April, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the following charges: two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, three counts of sexual abuse of children, and one count each of photographing/filming depicting sex act, indecent assault and solicitation to commit sexual assault.
Rodriguez, who was determined to be a sexually violent predator, will have to register as a sex offender for his lifetime.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenberg-Shaffer noted there are multiple reasons for the lifetime registration: not only must he register that long due to being named a sexually violent predator, but also because at least one of the charges he pleaded guilty to requires it.
After talking about harm Rodriguez’s actions caused the victims, Pavlock said that Rodriguez “deserves” the punishment he is receiving.
“The memories will still be there, and that will be with them the rest of their lives,” Pavlock said.
Rodriguez declined to make a statement on his own behalf at the hearing.
Criminal complaints filed at the time Rodriguez was first charged indicated that he had sexual contact with two juveniles and directed the juveniles to take off their clothes and engage in sexual activity while he took photographs.
