Sandy MaloneWilmington, PA – A Pennsylvania high school music director who replaced a teacher who had been charged with sex crimes against students has been charged with having an inappropriate physical relationship with a student herself.
The investigation into 26-year-old Olivia Lois Ortz began after her husband, Cody Ortz, returned from a trip to Florida and found correspondence between his wife and a 17-year-old female student on her iPad, the New Castle News reported.
Cody Ortz directed the Wilmington High School musical this year but does not work for the school district.
The criminal complaint said that Cody Ortz reported his wife’s illicit relationship with a student to the school district right after he found out about it, the New Castle News reported.
The school district and Cody Ortz then reported the matter to Childline, and the police were contacted.
Investigators served a search warrant on the Ortz home on May 5 and found text and Spotify messages between the music teacher and the 17-year-old girl, the New Castle News reported.
The criminal complaint said that more than 100 messages had been exchanged between the two on Spotify, and the teacher and student had set up a code word to use if something went wrong or “something bad” happened to either one of them.
The police report said the teen admitted to officers that she had been over to Ortz’s house multiple times while her husband was not home, the New Castle News reported.
She said that had spent the night with the teacher and had multiple romantic, physical encounters with Ortz.
Court records showed the girl told investigators that she slept over at Ortz’s house on April 7, 8, and 9 and they had a sexual relationship.
Police also found out that Ortz had continued communicating with the 17-year-old student even after the warrants had been served at her home, the New Castle News reported.
The girl told investigators that she was in love with Ortz and wanted to offer her support.
The complaint showed the girl told authorities that her father had taken away her cell phone, iPad, and laptop after he found out she was still talking to the woman who had victimized her.
School officials suspended Ortz with pay as soon as they found out about the allegations, the New Castle News reported.
Wilmington Schools Superintendent Dr. Terence P. Meehan said the music teacher resigned her teaching position on May 9.
On Friday, a district judge issued a warrant for Ortz’s arrest, the New Castle News reported.
The former teacher has been charged with unlawful contact with a minor for sexual offenses, criminal use of a communication facility, and two counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a school student.
Ortz remained at large over the weekend and performed in the Shenango Valley Chorale’s 50th anniversary concert on Sunday before turning herself in on Monday afternoon, the New Castle News reported.
Borough Police Chief Carmen Piccirillo said Ortz surrendered on the advice of her attorney and was arraigned by District Judge Rick Russo.
Russo ordered Ortz held in the Lawrence County jail on a $150,000 bond.
She has posted bond and been released, according to the New Castle News.
Disturbingly, Ortz’s predecessor at Wilmington High School was also accused of sexual misconduct with students.
Former band and music teacher 37-year-old Jonathan Priano allegedly had an affinity for tickling female students’ feet and engaged in close personal relationships with several of them, the New Castle News reported.
Priano was ultimately charged with 10 counts of institutional sexual assault, two counts of unlawful contact with minors, 12 counts of corruption of minors, and two counts of endangering the welfare of children.
He is scheduled for trial this summer in the Lawrence County Court of Common Please, the New Castle News reported.
Holly Matkin
