Phoenix Suns superfan Mr. ORNG sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for child sexual exploitation

PHOENIX — A former Valley high school coach known to Phoenix Suns fans as Mr. ORNG was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on Friday.

Patrick Battillo was arrested two years ago on suspicion of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking, according to the Peoria Police Department.

He was also sentenced to lifetime supervised probation.

Battillo was the head coach of the Peoria High School boys basketball team and volunteered at the West Valley campus. School administrators contacted authorities after learning he had allegedly offered juvenile students money in exchange for sexually explicit images and videos.

He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor last month.

Another school employee was also arrested in connection with the case.

Holly Holgate, a teacher in whose classroom Battillo volunteered, was accused of warning him about the investigation, which allowed him to leave campus before he could be questioned.

She was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution and failing to report child abuse or neglect.

Why was Patrick Battillo known as Mr. ORNG?

For years, Battillo was a familiar presence at Suns games. Dressed head to toe in orange, often with full face paint, his Mr. ORNG persona was hard to miss in the arena or on television.

He also appeared in a 2021 commercial promoting the NBA’s Christmas Day games.

District officials said Battillo completed fingerprint and background checks before he was hired to coach at Peoria High School in 2019.

Holgate worked at the school from 2000 to 2024 and had an up-to-date fingerprint clearance card, the district said after the arrests.

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