A 49-year-old former employee of Utah’s Attorney General’s Office has publicly admitted her role in a controversial incident where she was recorded pulling down a teenage girl’s skirt in a restaurant.
Ida Ann Lorenzo, whose actions were captured in a viral video with over 1.2 million views on TikTok, reportedly acted because she felt the 19-year-old’s skirt was “too short.”
Lorenzo recently appeared in court before Fifth District Court Judge Jay T. Winward, where she entered a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.
According to reports, Lorenzo admitted that she “knowingly and intentionally” touched the girl’s buttocks under circumstances that “would cause affront or alarm.”
The plea, part of a deal with prosecutors, will be held in abeyance for one year. This means that if Lorenzo stays out of legal trouble, undergoes a mental health evaluation, and avoids contact with the victim, the case will eventually be dismissed without a conviction on her record.
However, if she fails to meet these conditions, she could face up to 180 days in jail.
Though Judge Winward had not officially signed off on the plea deal, he did not show any signs of opposition during the hearing.
The incident occurred on April 20, 2024, at the Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, Utah, about 300 miles from Salt Lake City. At that time, Lorenzo had been working as a legal secretary with the Utah Attorney General’s Office for only a few weeks. The day after her arrest, she was terminated from her position.
Footage from the incident shows Lorenzo defending her actions and reprimanding the young woman and her friends. In the video, Lorenzo can be heard saying, “I happen to work for the state, and if I have to watch your a– cheeks hanging out again, I will call CPS (Child Protective Services).”
The police body camera footage captured Lorenzo doubling down on her conduct even after being questioned by investigators.
In an interview with a detective, Lorenzo claimed she didn’t actually touch the teen but only pulled down her skirt to cover her “butt cheeks.” She said she initially tried to speak to the teen about her attire but felt rebuffed and decided to take matters into her own hands to “cover up her private parts.”
Lorenzo even claimed to have received applause from nearby diners after her intervention, a point the detective dismissed as irrelevant.
The teen, speaking with police on April 23, explained that she felt “someone’s cold hands” on her skin, initially assuming it was a friend’s touch. She was startled to realize it was the hand of a stranger. She clarified to the detective that she was wearing both shorts and underwear, disputing Lorenzo’s claim that her private parts were visible.
Footage from April 24 captures Lorenzo’s reaction as the detective informed her of the charges against her. Appearing surprised, she asked, “You’re arresting me?” before being handcuffed and led to a squad car.
She was subsequently booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Utah, before being released on bond.
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