A Karen from Utah who was caught on camera confronting a 19-year-old girl about the size of her miniskirt after pulling it down at a steakhouse.
Ida Lorenzo, 49, had faced a Class A misdemeanor charge of sexual assault following the viral incident at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, but reached a plea deal on July 30.
As part of the deal, Lorenzo, a former legal secretary for the state Attorney General’s office, pleaded guilty to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of “knowingly and intentionally touching the buttocks of another person under circumstances which she should have known would cause affront or alarm.” according to ABC 4.
She will now remain in custody without sentencing for a year provided she complies with the terms of the agreement (which stipulate she must have no contact with the victim) and does not commit any further offences.
Ida Lorenzo, 49, accepted a plea deal after she was caught pulling down the skirt of a 19-year-old woman.
After one year, the criminal case against her could be dismissed.
But if he fails to comply with the terms of the agreement, a warrant could be issued for his arrest, his guilty plea could be accepted and he could face a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail.
According to a hearing record Obtained by Utah News Dispatch, The victim in the case supported the plea deal.
In a viral TikTok video, Lorenzo was seen pulling down the 19-year-old’s skirt and then flashing a badge while stating, “I work for the state.”
She told the alleged victim that if she ever sees her hanging buttocks and pubic hair again, she will call Child Protective Services.
Meanwhile, the young victim’s friends are heard telling Lorenzo: “You can’t touch her” and then accused her of sexually assaulting the victim.
Lorenzo, a former law clerk for the state Attorney General’s office, pleaded guilty to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of “knowingly and intentionally touching the buttocks of another person under circumstances which she should have known would cause affront or alarm.”
But the incident only came to the attention of the authorities after Lorenzo reported it to the police herself that same night.
She told police the teen’s skirt was “ridden above her vagina and buttocks,” exposing her pubic hair. ABC4 reported.
Lorenzo also reportedly explained that she lowered her skirt because there were small children present and the restaurant staff did not act.
After footage of the incident was posted online, Lorenzo called 911 again to claim a “threat had been made on her life” because she is a state employee, according to the police report seen by ABC.
She told police that she first asked the girl to lower her skirt, but that she did not listen to her and so she acted herself.
When asked why he thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that he only touched her skirt.
But the teenager had also contacted police after the incident to report that she had been “sexually assaulted while in the lobby” of the St. George restaurant.
She is seen on body camera footage telling officers she could feel “someone’s cold hands against my skin” before turning around and coming face to face with her stalker.
Police body camera footage shows Lorenzo defending his actions to officers
The teenager recalled how she initially thought it was one of her friends having fun and how shocked she was to see it was a middle-aged woman she didn’t know.
“Not just physically, but mentally,” she said of the lasting impact the ordeal left on her. “I’m struggling a lot with my weight issues.”
Others who filed witness statements shared a similar account of what happened, police said, paving the way for Lorenzo’s arrest the next day.
The teenager added that the incident, which was recorded by her friend CC Snow, made her feel insecure about her body.
“It’s outrageous to me,” he says in the clip.
But when police later questioned and arrested Lorenzo, she defended her actions.
She told officers that she first asked the girl to lower her skirt, but that she did not listen and therefore acted herself.
When asked why he thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that he only touched her skirt.
An officer then told her that she had still “engaged in criminal behavior by touching the woman’s clothing and that her behavior was not appropriate.”
The officer explained that touching someone’s private areas was against the law, even if it was just touching their clothing.
She then seemed surprised when officers said they were arresting her for sexual assault.
Still, the former state employee seemed shocked to be arrested for the incident caught on camera, claiming she thought the teen was naked under her skirt.
“Are you going to arrest me?” he says in the footage recorded by the police officer’s body camera, during which he recreates how he “harmlessly” pulled on the girl’s skirt.
“I should have called the police right then. I should have reported it,” she added in footage recorded at the St. George Police Department on April 22.
“I would have done whatever it took, but that wasn’t going to solve the problem,” he continued. “It probably would have taken forever to get to that point.”
She goes on to claim that her speech received a “standing ovation” from those in attendance.
Then, when asked why she took matters into her own hands, she replies: “(I was) protecting the children by covering their private parts.”
The officer, in turn, responds: “Correct, but that’s not your job.”
Lorenzo is seen being escorted to a police car after her arrest on April 24.
Following his arrest, Lorenzo was fired from the State Attorney General’s Office.
She later attributed her firing to “circumstances beyond my control.” GoFundMe to provide some kind of income until I get a new job.
“My career and only means of income are currently on hold for an indefinite period, and it is urgent that I reach out to try and raise funds to help support my two children and myself during this difficult period,” Lorenzo wrote, asking for sympathy.
“I am a single mother and have never asked for help until now. My son is a suicide survivor (he was bullied in high school) and I am a survivor of domestic violence. For the first time in my life, I myself could use help. Any amount of your generosity would be greatly appreciated.”