Va. man pleads guilty to CSC in Ottawa County

Wed, Nov 11, 2009    to del.icio.us

A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to a criminal sexual conduct charge related to allegations that he traveled to the area to have a sexual rendezvous with a 14-year-old Spring Lake Township girl.

Eric Ortega, 21, has been jailed since March, when the girl's parents found him hiding in their home. He was scheduled for a trial in Ottawa County 20th Circuit Court this week before pleading guilty to a count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Friday, court records show.

Ortega's sentencing has been set for Dec. 14. Third-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

According to police, Ortega drove from his home in Williamsburg, Va., to Spring Lake Township to meet the girl at her parent's home and a Spring Lake hotel. He apparently slept at the girl's house without her parent's knowledge for at least one night, police said.

Investigators said they were unsure if Ortega met the girl through a mutual friend or on a social networking Web site, but they did confiscate at least one computer from him.

Ortega was aware that the girl was 14, investigators said. The age of consent in Michigan is 16.

A call to Ottawa County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Kuiper, who is handling the case, was not returned before press time.