SNOW HILL — A Virginia man, convicted on second-degree assault and first-degree burglary charges after climbing in an Ocean City hotel window last May and sexually assaulting a female victim, was sentenced on Monday to 11 years in prison.
Romer Ortuno, 30, of Springfield, Va. in December was found guilty of second-degree rape and first-degree burglary after a two-day trial in Worcester County Circuit Court. Back in court on Monday, Ortuno was sentenced to 15 years for the second-degree rape conviction, of which four were suspended. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the first-degree burglary charge and the two sentences will be served concurrently, resulting in a total of 11 years. Ortuno will be forced to serve at least 50 percent of the 11-year sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Last May 25, Ocean City Police detectives responded to Atlantic General Hospital and met with the victim of an alleged sexual assault. Through the investigation, detectives learned the victim and a group of friends were at an Ocean City nightclub earlier where they ran into acquaintances from their hometown in Virginia.
Eventually, the group along with their newfound acquaintances returned to a hotel room together where they continued to consume alcoholic beverages and became intoxicated. In the early morning hours, members of the group including Ortuno, left the hotel room while the victim was asleep.
However, Ortuno allegedly returned to the hotel and entered the room through an unlocked window and reportedly raped the victim. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ortuno, charging him with first-degree rape and first-degree burglary. On May 27, 2014, Ortuno was arrested at his home in Virginia by local authorities.