‘Busybody’ woman who pulled down a teen’s skirt for being too short got arrested and is now on a tight leash

In a turn of events, a 49-year-old former employee of the Utah Attorney General’s Office has admitted how wrong she was to a controversial incident that unfolded in a bustling restaurant earlier this year.

Ida Ann Lorenzo, who was caught on video pulling down the skirt of a 19-year-old girl because it was too short, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor sexual battery charge on Tuesday.

The viral video, which amassed over 1.2 million views on TikTok, shows Lorenzo confronting the teenager in a crowded St. George restaurant, accusing her of wearing a skirt that was too short. “If I have to watch your a– cheeks hanging out again, I will call CPS,” Lorenzo is heard saying in the footage.

Appearing before Fifth District Court Judge Jay T. Winward, Lorenzo admitted to “knowingly and intentionally” touching the young woman in a manner likely to cause alarm. Under a plea agreement, Lorenzo’s conviction will be held in abeyance for one year, meaning the court will hold off on entering a judgment of conviction.

If she abides by the law, completes a mental health evaluation and avoids contact with the victim, the case will be dismissed. Failure to comply could result in a 180-day jail sentence.

Lorenzo had just begun a new role as a legal secretary with the Utah Attorney General’s Office when the incident occurred on April 20, 2024, at the Sakura Japanese Steakhouse, about 300 miles from Salt Lake City. She was fired the day after her arrest.

Body camera footage from April 22 reveals Lorenzo defending her actions to investigators, insisting she only touched the girl’s skirt to cover her exposed “butt cheeks” after her verbal warnings were ignored. Lorenzo even claimed she received a “standing ovation” from nearby diners, though this was dismissed by the detective.

The teenage victim recounted to police how she initially thought the cold hands on her skin belonged to a friend, only to discover it was a stranger. She clarified that she was wearing shorts and underwear, contradicting Lorenzo’s assertion about exposed private parts.

On April 24, Lorenzo was taken into custody at the police station, visibly shocked by her arrest. She was subsequently booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility and released on bond.

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As Lorenzo faces the consequences of her actions, the incident serves as a reminder of the boundaries of personal space and the legal repercussions of crossing them.