By Brent Ruffner
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

Peoria High School varsity boys basketball coach Patrick Battillo was arrested Tuesday on charges he solicited videos and photographs from juveniles engaged in various sex acts, Peoria Police said in a press release.

Battillo, a Goodyear resident known for revving up the crowd as Mr. ORNG during Phoenix Suns games, started as interim varsity boys basketball coach midway through the 2019-20 season.

“...After speaking with the parties involved, it was learned that Patrick (Battillo) had been asking juvenile victims to send videos and photographs of themselves in various sex acts and in various states of nudity,” the press release stated. “(Battillo) would tell the victims that he would send them money for these photos/videos.”

He is charged with felony crimes that include luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking, the press release stated.

Another employee and teacher, Holly Holgate, was also arrested on charges of hindering prosecution and failing to report child abuse or neglect after she “notified Battillo of the allegations and that police were involved” while detectives were at the school, the press release stated.

“Because of her actions, (Battillo) left the school prior to detectives being able to contact him,” the press release stated.

Battillo was a volunteer in Holgate’s class, according to the press release.

“We are aware that two trusted members of our Peoria High School community were arrested last night,” Peoria Unified School District officials wrote in a statement. “We are working to ensure that those who may have been victimized receive the space and care they need, and we are cooperating with Peoria Police Department on their investigation.”

School officials contacted the Peoria Police Department, the Arizona Department of Education and have filed a report with the Department of Child Safety, according to the statement.

Battillo began coaching basketball in 2019 while Holgate had been with Peoria High School since 2000, the statement read.

“...The safety and well-being of our students is paramount,” the statement read. “Should a student need someone to talk to about what they are feeling, we will have our social worker and members of our counseling team available. The Peoria Police Department is encouraging those with information in this case to reach out to them through the tip phone line: 623-773-7045 or via e-mail: PDTips@peoriaaz.gov.”

Brent Ruffner
Lead News Reporter | Daily Independent

BRuffner@iniusa.org

Journalism has fascinated Brent Ruffner since junior high school.

Since 2001, his stories have been published in newspapers from the Albuquerque to the Arizona and he has always had a knack for making sure his facts are right and his words are to the point. 

Growing up, Brent watched as sports reporters covered his beloved Phoenix Suns, a team he followed since Charles Barkley first arrived in Phoenix via trade in 1992. Sports reporting was a dream back then.

But after gaining some writing experience, Brent found a love for news instead of covering different types of sports. In 2008, he moved to New Mexico and covered crime, schools and city beats all while holding elected officials accountable. 

He covered stories that ranged from a DEA drug bust gone bad to an award-winning story on school lunches. 

In Arizona, Brent was a freelance writer who covered everything from the importance of citrus in the state to Esteban owning a store in downtown Prescott. 

Brent is a 2007 graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.