A Philadelphia woman accused of firing a shot during a fight at Whistlestop Park in November 2019 has received a split verdict following a bench trial last week.
Jennifer Ortega, 30, was found not guilty on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury on Friday morning. Instead, Common Pleas Judge Thomas Rogers found Ortega guilty of three counts of simple assault, three counts of reckless endangerment and three counts of disorderly conduct.
Additional charges of harassment and terroristic threats were dismissed at Ortega’s preliminary hearing. Court records indicate that Judge Rogers deferred sentencing to a later date.
The charges stem from a workplace argument that grew into a physical fight at the park in late November 2019.
Police said that on Nov. 30, 2019, a physical altercation occurred between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. along the unit block of County Line Road, which reportedly involved five women, as well as the parents of two of the women. The fight was reportedly preceded by an argument that two of the women had at their place of employment, according to the criminal complaint.
The report states that two of the females brought an expandable baton and a Taser to the fight, but neither was used during the altercation.
Investigators learned that after several unsuccessful attempts, the parents of two of the girls were able to break up the fight, and they departed the scene in two vehicles, the report states. As they were leaving, the father saw one of the other women — identified as Ortega — racking a handgun in the parking lot and pointing it in the direction of his vehicle, according to the complaint.
Ortega then allegedly fired one shot, missing the occupants but striking the rear of the fleeing vehicle, police said.
Police recovered a 9mm shell casing from the parking lot the following day, and a records check confirmed that Ortega was the registered owner of a 9mm Beretta. Ortega was interviewed by police and later placed under arrest.
Ortega posted $10,000 cash bail on Dec. 2, 2019, and has remained free since that time. No date for sentencing has been scheduled at this time.
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