This morning, Jose Enrique Ortega, 41, of Cape Coral, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced, in three separate cases in Lee County, for crimes involving children.
In the first case from 2020, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) working in an undercover capacity, discovered a computer I.P. address, sharing child pornography. The digital information was traced to the home of the defendant and a search warrant was executed. Items seized contained child porn.
Ortega was adjudicated guilty for one count of Possession of Child Pornography with Intent to Promote and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
In the second case, additional evidence was uncovered by FDLE from items seized and there was a separate investigation by the Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD). As part of the CCPD
investigation, a child victim was identified. FDLE also recovered several images of child porn, including an image from the defendant’s computer, which corroborated the child’s disclosure to law enforcement.
Ortega was adjudicated guilty of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by Sex Offender Probation for the rest of his life. He was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for five counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, and one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance.
While his case was pending, the defendant violated his pre-trial release, due to violating the terms of his GPS electronic monitoring. After being arrested, law enforcement received a tip and a search warrant was executed by FDLE at the apartment where Ortega was staying. Child pornography was found, which led to a third case.
The defendant was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for six counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentences are to run concurrent. The defendant also had to
forfeit all items seized by FDLE and pay court costs and fines.
The defendant was also designated a Sex Offender for life in all three cases. Assistant State Attorney Clark Cary handled the prosecution.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office