Former Horizon High teacher pleads guilty to child sexual exploitation FBI: Teacher had past sexual encounters with minors, child porn

A former Horizon High School teacher pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor on Wednesday in El Paso federal court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

FBI agents arrested Ricardo Ortiz, now 30, when he arrived at a home to have a sexual encounter with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy that he met on social media in 2020, officials said.

The investigation found Ortiz allegedly had past sexual encounters with at least three minors in the El Paso area and child pornography was found on his electronic devices, authorities said Wednesday.

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USA TODAY: ‘Almost an insult’: Republican senator slams CDC over autism, vaccines website.

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Portrait of Jay StahlJay Stahl
USA TODAY

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, who has repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump’s administration over health issues, slammed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over a website related to autism and vaccines.

The gastroenterologist during a July 26 interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” called out the health authority for saying online that it’s “not an evidence-based claim” that vaccines don’t cause autism.

“That is what gives some parents hesitancy regarding having their children vaccinated,” Cassidy told host Dana Bash, who asked if the site was a “good faith attempt to stop spreading what you call ‘misinformation about vaccines.'”

The health hawk told Bash the claims will make parents hesitant to do “the right thing, which is to have their child vaccinated.” Cassidy continued, telling Bash that “it’s been firmly established vaccines do not cause autism.”

Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, is an outspoken advocate for vaccines. When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was being considered as the nation’s health secretary last year, Cassidy asked him to “come out unequivocally” and say vaccines are safe and they do not cause autism.

Confessing was not scary, not shameful – just freeing.

One of them subsequently organised a prayer session, where I shared my life story, confessing all the dirt and joys. The two prayer intercessors proceeded to ask more detailed questions about my life events, my family history and where I saw Christ in the midst of the accounts I gave.

Through their questions (prompted by God), my answers and their prayers, it became obvious that there was a long-running generational curse in my family: a spirit of accusation. I sort of always knew this but was never able to piece it together and spear it head-on, until now.

They explained that this generational spiritual stronghold was probably passed down through my grandmother, who was a practising witch back in America.

As a child, my grandmother would pass me gifts and crystals that she said would “protect” me, and even though I knew Jesus was the One who would protect me and didn’t want these gifts, I felt I could not refuse her.

I could suddenly see so clearly how it was Satan’s number one strategy of attack to penetrate my life from a young age. He even used other relationships (men, friends, coaches, colleagues, etc.) to accuse and make me feel like an unlovable, hopeless failure. We prayed for my family and me, proclaiming Christ’s victory over this generational stronghold.

During the prayer, I felt the Presence of God breathing through me and lifting me up in a way I never have before – I felt so connected, light, full, free, joyful, peaceful, complete, and excited! 

I was laughing and crying with joy again. The prophesies and words of encouragement given during our prayer time were additional strong affirmations of what God has already hinted to me. I thought I knew, but now I finally (really) know what it means to desire more of Him and less of me.

I thought I knew scripture but it now seems to pop out with a whole new level of understanding. 

I have been asking Him to teach me more how to pray. My connection with my Saviour in prayer has deepened beyond description. I no longer am constantly battling the inner shouts of accusation and self-hatred. I know the devil will attack again, but I will continue to proclaim my victory because Christ already has the victory!

After 23 years of following Jesus, I finally experienced living freely in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection – fully, passionately overflowing, unencumbered by strongholds deep beneath the surface.

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