Records show a woman in St. George was fired from the Utah AG’s office when she pulled on her skirt

ST. GEORGE – A woman who was charged with sexual assault last month after she allegedly tugged on another woman’s skirt at a St. George restaurant has been fired from the Utah attorney general’s office, newly released documents show.

Part of the incident in a crowded restaurant was captured on video and shared on social media, where it went viral. The video shows a woman apparently confronting someone and saying, “I happen to work for the state,” while showing what appears to be an ID and threatening to call child protective services.

During the 36-second video, the woman wearing the skirt’s friends can be heard saying she is 19 years old and “You’re not allowed to touch her.”

According to police, Ida Lorenzo, 48, of Santa Clara, later called 911 to report harassment related to the previous night at the restaurant and the video shared on social media. Lorenzo was later charged with sexual assault, a Class A misdemeanor, on April 25 in 5th District Court.

That same day, her employment with the Utah Attorney General’s Office in Washington County was terminated, according to documents obtained by KSL on Wednesday in response to a public records request.

She was hired as legal secretary on March 4, according to records.

“I am writing to inform you that you have failed your probation and will be separated from your state employment with the Attorney General’s Office today, April 25, 2024. Your failure to adhere to policies and standards regarding performance contributed to this decision,” the termination letter states.

According to a police affidavit, Lorenzo approached the woman, “pulled down her skirt and told her to be careful what she showed, especially when small children were around. At that point, everyone around her accused (Lorenzo) of sexually assaulting the woman.”

Lorenzo told police she “never touched the woman, she only touched her skirt,” according to police. The officer told Lorenzo she “nevertheless exhibited criminal behavior by touching the woman’s clothing and her behavior was not appropriate,” the affidavit states.

Police said the woman who had her skirt pulled down also contacted them after the incident and reported that she had been sexually harassed “in the lobby” of the restaurant. She said the woman “confronted” her “while her back was turned” and, without notice or formal warning, slipped cold hands under her skirt and touched her buttocks before she felt her skirt being pulled “, said the police.

The woman said she was “shocked” by the interaction and felt “insulted,” the affidavit states.