Juan Lopez Ortiz was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking two Freeborn County Jail employees last year.

Thursday, August 09, 2001

Juan Lopez Ortiz was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking two Freeborn County Jail employees last year.

He was also ordered to pay $600 in restitution to one jailer for lost wages and destroying his uniform.

Ortiz was transferred to St. Cloud correctional facility Wednesday morning, to begin serving his sentence, but may be extradited to Maryland to face charges there and serve the rest of his time, said Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David Walker.

&uot;It’s possible he will do some time in Maryland. I don’t know if they are going to extradite him or not,&uot; Walker said. &uot;Someone in Maryland will have to come up and get him.&uot;

Ortiz was apologetic in the courtroom Tuesday, Walker said.

&uot;He’s never been bad in the courtroom though,&uot; he said. &uot;He has always been polite, calm and reasonable.&uot;

That hasn’t always been the case in the jail, even after Ortiz was placed in lock down after assaulting two guards in an apparent escape attempt, he said.

Last July, Ortiz was arrested on two outstanding Maryland warrants for sexual misconduct. Shortly after his arrest, he assaulted two Freeborn County Jail employees – severely injuring one guard, who still doesn’t remember the incident. He was recently convicted of first-degree assault with deadly force, and second-degree assault.

&uot;I don’t think he acted out of anger; there’s nothing in the case that indicates he acted out of anger,&uot; Walker said. &uot;He just decided he wanted to leave.&uot;

Ortiz has denied the assault was part of an escape attempt, Walker said. He told police he was just trying to avoid returning to Maryland, where he feels his life is threatened.

&uot;He just decided, ‘I have to hit this person to get what I want, which is to get more time in Minnesota,’&uot; Walker said.