Central Islip man gets 8 years in prison for beating nephews, prosecutors say

A Central Islip man was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for beating his two nephews with a metal pipe in 2018, causing one to have his leg amputated, before fleeing to his native Guatemala after his arrest, Suffolk County prosecutors said.

Carlos Ortega, 42, was also sentenced by Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge John Collins to five years post-release supervision.

“This vicious assault cost one of his victims a limb,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “Ortega fled so he would not have to answer for his actions. Thanks to the diligence of law enforcement, with the help of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service, the defendant was brought to justice.”

Anthony Scheller, Ortega's Central Islip-based defense attorney, said his client is expected to be deported after serving his sentence. He otherwise declined to comment.

On Aug. 5, 2018, the two victims went to Ortega’s Central Islip home to pick up their grandparents, who were visiting from Guatemala, to take them out for dinner, according to court record and statements from the defendant earlier this year.

Ortega arrived at his home and after seeing his nephews parked outside, retrieved a metal pipe from his work truck and confronted one of them, prosecutors said. 

The first victim, at the time 23, attempted to run away, but Ortega struck him several times in the leg with the pipe, authorities said.

The second victim confronted Ortega who then struck his nephew in the face with the same pipe, records show.

Both victims treated at Southside Hospital. The first victim was beaten so severely that his left leg had to be amputated, prosecutors said.

Ortega initially claimed self-defense but after being confronted with home security video of the incident, later admitted to his actions and was indicted, officials said.

He was arraigned on Dec. 21, 2018, and released after posting a $50,000 bond.

While Ortega was required to surrender his passport, he failed to appear at the next court date and a warrant was issued for his arrest. It was subsequently learned that Ortega had fled to Guatemala.

He was eventually located and returned to Suffolk on Feb. 25 and pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault with intent to injure in September.