Man Accused Of Kidnapping Daughter To Stand Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man who allegedly kidnapped his daughter and fled the area has been ordered to stand trial for kidnapping.
Tex Ortiz was arrested last week during a long standoff in Altoona.
Police say Ortiz took two-year-old Jaleeya Ortiz the week before Christmas.
Jaleeya's grandmother, Lori Clark, is listed as her legal guardian after her mother passed away about two months ago.
As he left the courtroom Ortiz told reporters he loves his daughter, whatever he did was to protect his daughter and that it was all a misunderstanding.
Ortiz didn't have custody of the child.
He was under house arrest at the time of the abduction and removed his ankle bracelet before he left.
"Daddy loves you Jaleeyah. Big misunderstanding."
Those were the first words Tex Ortiz said to reporters after District Judge Leonard Hromyak ordered him to stand trial on charges of kidnapping, concealing the whereabouts of a child and interfering with the custody of children.
Today's testimony revealed that just three days before the girl disappeared, a family court judge ordered primary interim custody of the girl to her grandmother Lori Clark.
But Ortiz claims he never knew about that order.
"Never got it," said Ortiz. "Trying to protect my daughter. That's all I was doing was trying to protect my daughter. Love you. Love you Lee Lee."
However, during today's hearing, Penn Hills officer Patrick Ford testified that when he made contact with Ortiz via cell phone, Ortiz told him, "I don't care about that court order. I'm not going to give my daughter to you or anybody else."
Police also testified Ortiz told them she was in New York, but would not give them any more information.
Police testified even though he cut off an ankle bracelet and changed cell phones frequently to avoid tracing, he eventually ended up in Altoona with the child and gave up, turning the child over to authorities.
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