Internet Sting Case Outcome
Defendant Convicted on Internet Child Exploitation Charges Sentenced to Prison
Media Release
For Immediate Release
www.washoecounty.us/da
Contact: Michelle Bays
mbays@da.washoecounty.us
775.321.4304 (o); 775.771.6049 (c)
Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that Justin Michael Sortino, age 37 from Reno, has been sentenced to a maximum term of 10 years in prison in connection with an Internet sting conducted by the regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit. Sortino previously pled guilty in April to one count of Lure or Attempt to Lure Child with Use of Computer Technology to Engage in Sexual Conduct and one count of Attempt to Use Permit Minor, Age 14 or Older to be Subject of Sexual Portrayal in a Performance and was sentenced last week in District Court.
The case against Sortino began in early 2021 when HEAT detectives began an investigation involving internet solicitation of underage females for sex. An undercover sting was conducted on the suspect and Sortino was arrested for his attempts to arrange to meet and have sex with a supposed 14-year-old girl. A subsequent search of Sortino’s phone located numerous sexually explicit conversations with numerous unidentified juvenile females since 2018.
At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Darcy Cameron pointed out that Sortino had previously been employed as a high school math teacher, a fact that he discussed and used in his messages with the believed 14-year-old girl to further manipulate her. In 2016, Sortino voluntarily resigned following a sexual assault investigation involving a student. He was ultimately not arrested because it was determined the student attended a different school and was 18 at the time they had sex. Based on continued Sortino’s predatory conduct, DDA Cameron requested a maximum consecutive sentence for each count be imposed of 30 years in prison. Sortino was ultimately sentenced to concurrent 10-year sentences for each count.
Washoe County DDA Cameron works closely with HEAT Detectives to combat sex trafficking and child exploitation crimes in our community. Goals of this partnership include educating the public about human trafficking and child exploitation on the internet