FCPS to be reviewed after alleged assaults at Fairfax High School

An outside review will be conducted into how Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) handled a situation involving an 18-year-old student arrested after being accused of multiple incidents of physical assault on female students. All attend Fairfax High School.

The case gained national attention when the Department of Homeland Security weighed in. It claims the suspect is in the U.S. without legal status and urged authorities not to release him.

The case is roiling the Fairfax High School Community. Israel Flores Ortiz, 18, is facing nine counts of assault and battery.

The alleged victims are all under 18.

Attorney Demetry Pikrallidas says he has been retained to represent the interests of one student and her family. He described the alleged assault on her as having taken place in an extremely crowded school hallway.

“The initial communication to the parent was, I think, a ‘butt touching’ or something,” he told News4. “What happened to my client is unspeakable, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it. But it wasn’t a casual grazing, or it wasn’t as described. It was terrible.”

In a statement to the community, Superintendent of Schools Michelle Reid confirmed that an independent review will be conducted by the McGuire Woods law firm, saying, “The goal is clear: to establish a clear understanding of what occurred, when it occurred, and confirm that all policies, procedures, and regulations were properly followed.”

“I have solid reason to believe that this was happening before March, before February, probably before January, before December, probably before November,” Pikrallidas said. “There was something going on.

Flores Ortiz is being held in jail without bond, awaiting further legal proceedings against him.