Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CEDAR CITY — A former Brian Head Town Council member who pleaded guilty to a single count of sexual battery has been sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to write a letter of apology to the victim.
James Leslie Ortler, 76, was sentenced on Oct. 24 by 5th District Judge Matthew L. Bell. As part of the conditions of his sentence, Ortler also was required to resign as president of the Copper Chase Condominium Owners Association and from its board of directors. He handed in his keys, checkbook and other documents the following day, according to a document filed with the court.
The charge stemmed from an incident that reportedly occurred on or about Sept. 4, 2020, when Ortler asked a woman in her early 20s to drive him home after he had allegedly been drinking alcohol.
According to the probable cause statement, Ortler offered to let the woman sleep in his guest room for the night. Later, while the two were sitting in a hot tub, Ortler allegedly tried to kiss the woman and touched her "private areas" multiple times, according to the affidavit.
