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5 months ago
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A woman charged earlier this year with sexual battery after pulling down the skirt of a teenager at a restaurant has turned to drastic measures to earn money since losing her job.
Ida Lorenzo, 48, was terminated from her role Utah Attorney General's Office on April 25 - the same day she was formally charged.
But Lorenzo has now blamed her firing on 'circumstances beyond my control' and in a bid to generate some extra cash, has set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of providing some form of income until she lands a new job.
'My career and sole means of income is 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 sons and myself during this difficult period,' Lorenzo wrote, pleading for sympathy.
'I'm a single mother and I've never asked for any help until now. My son is a suicide survivor (bullied in middle school) and I am a survivor of domestic violence. For the first time in my life, I myself could use the help. Any amount of your generosity would be so very appreciated.'
So far, Lorenzo has raised less than $500 of her $5,000 goal.
Ida Lorenzo was charged with a Class A misdemeanor, after the skirt-pulling incident on April 20 in the lobby of a Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, Utah. A TikTok video of the altercation, filmed by one of the victim's friends, later went viral
Ida Lorenzo, 48, has now started a GoFundMe after being fired from her job. Her two sons are pictured on her donation page in which she is aiming to raise $5,000
Lorenzo appeared in the 5th District Court in St. George, Utah earlier this week, in what was her first court appearance since being charged with a Class A misdemeanor in April.
In Utah, a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and fines of up to $2,500.
Lorenzo was captured on video at a crowded restaurant in St. George, tugging on the teenage girl's skirt before telling her to be mindful of 'what she was showing, especially with small kids around,' according to a police booking affidavit.
She told officers that she pulled on the teen's miniskirt claiming the young woman was exposing her buttocks and vagina in the lobby in front children.
During the viral, 36-second video, the young woman's friends can be heard telling Lorenzo: 'You do not get to touch her.'
She also appeared to flash a badge and said, 'I happen to work for the state,' while threatening to call child protective services.
The following day, Lorenzo was the one to call 911 to report harassment related to the unpleasant encounter.
She was charged in 5th District Court on April 25 with sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
Lorenzo's employment with the Washington County office of the state AG was terminated the same day.
She had only been in the job for around six weeks, having been hired on March 4 by the office as a legal secretary.
Lorenzo was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane and released after posting bail. She is seen here just before her arrest. She was fired from her job the same day
Lorenzo is seen being walked to a police car following her arrest on April 24
Footage of the incident was posted to TikTok, garnering more than 14.5 million views
The termination letter reads: 'I am writing to inform you that you have not passed your probationary employment period successfully and today, April 25, 2024, you are being separated from state employment with the attorney general's office.
'Your noncompliance with policies and standards related to performance contributed to this decision.'
According to police documents, the evening of the assault, Lorenzo approached the young woman and pulled her skirt down.
'This caused all the people with her to accuse (Lorenzo) of sexually assaulting the female,' read police records.
Lorenzo told authorities she 'never' touched the other woman's skin, and that she had merely 'touched the female's skirt.'
An officer told her that she had still 'engaged in criminal behavior by touching the female's clothing, and her behavior was not appropriate.'
The officer explained that touching someone’s private areas was against the law even if just touching clothing.
The incident took place in Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, Utah on April 20
Following the incident, the teenager contacted the police to report that she had been 'sexually assaulted while in the lobby' of the St. George restaurant.
Lorenzo had 'confronted' her 'while her back was turned to her, and without any notice, or formal warning, she felt cold hands go up her skirt, touching her buttocks before she felt her skirt being pulled on,' according to police records.
The young woman said she felt 'startled' and 'violated' by the encounter after Lorenzo came up to her without warning, pulling her skirt down from behind.
She denied that her genitals were exposed, explaining to police that she had been wearing underwear at the time.
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