A 21-year-old man is suing a Moorhead computer entrepreneur who admitted to sexually abusing the plaintiff from ages 9 to 16.
The suit filed in Clay County District Court against David Ortner asks for more than $50,000.
The suit claims that because of abuse, the victim suffered shame, guilt, anger and severe emotional harm that have resulted in ongoing medical expenses.
Ortner, 54, recently pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, admitting he sexually abused the plaintiff for seven years.
A judge has signed an order giving the Clay County Sheriff's Department authority to seize property belonging to Ortner, including investment accounts, vehicles and airplanes, and property at his company, D&M Technologies.
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Ortner will be given the chance to contest the order at a hearing set for Nov. 21.
In an affidavit filed with the suit, the plaintiff, identified in court papers by his initials, said during the time Ortner was his employer, Ortner confided in him he banked with offshore accounts.
The affidavit claims Ortner took pride in his ability to hide assets from the Internal Revenue Service.
At the time Ortner pleaded guilty in the criminal case, he said under oath his business had been ruined by publicity surrounding the criminal charges.
He said airplanes his company used had been repossessed and the only thing he owned was a car and waterbed.
While it was reported Ortner owned assets in the Cayman Islands, Ortner said the property was actually owned by one of his brothers.
Last week, a jury found Ortner guilty of sexually abusing another boy who worked for him. In addition, Ortner has three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct pending against him in Clay County District Court.
Those cases also involve young boys who worked for Ortner.
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Readers can reach Moorhead Bureau Chief Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
