Executive Summary
- Nicandro Ortega, 57, sentenced to 62-108 years in prison.
- Jury convicted Ortega on 16 felony counts, including human trafficking of a child.
- Charges included sexual servitude and indecent liberties with a minor.
- DA Jeff Nieman praised the victim’s courage in testifying.
Nicandro Ortega, 57, of Chatham County, has been sentenced to a prison term of 62 to 108 years following a jury’s decision to convict him on multiple felony charges, including human trafficking involving a child victim. The sentencing follows a trial where Ortega was found guilty on all counts brought against him.
According to court documents, Ortega was arrested in 2023 and charged with 16 felonies. The specific counts included three counts of human trafficking of a child victim, three counts of sexual servitude of a child victim, four counts of indecent liberties with a child, and six counts of felony disseminating obscenity. On Wednesday, the jury returned a guilty verdict on these charges.
Chatham County District Attorney Jeff Nieman addressed the outcome in a news release on Thursday, specifically highlighting the role of the victim in the proceedings. Nieman commended the survivor for her "courage" in the face of what he described as "terrible crimes." Nieman stated, "She not only endured years of abuse at the hands of this man but also reported these events to authorities and bravely testified in court over several days."
Prosecutors left the sentencing terms to the discretion of the court. Presiding Judge Tonia Cuchin subsequently sentenced Ortega to serve between 62 and 108 years in prison.
Judicial Outcomes & Sentencing
The sentence imposed by Judge Tonia Cuchin reflects the severe legal penalties associated with human trafficking and the exploitation of minors in North Carolina. By issuing a sentence that could exceed a century, the court has signaled a zero-tolerance approach to sexual servitude involving children. While the trial has concluded, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, a legal standard that was met in this instance through the jury’s unanimous verdict.
