PHOENIX – On Monday afternoon, former Phoenix Suns superfan Patrick Battillo aka Mr. ORNG pleaded guilty in the case tied to his 2024 arrest while coaching at Peoria High School in Arizona.
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Patrick Battillo, attends his arraignment on April 21, 2025, in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. © Mark Henle/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
According to reporting from The Arizona Republic, Battillo pleaded guilty in a case tied to his 2024 arrest for alleged child sex crimes of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking while he was coaching at Peoria High School. Court records cited in those reports outline the charges connected to the case and confirm the guilty plea entered in court. Authorities and court proceedings have handled the matter through the legal system since the initial arrest.
Basketball coach Patrick Battillo outside his home in Phoenix on July 7, 2021. © Benjamin Chambers/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Patrick Battillo aka Mr. ORNG pleads guilty:
For years, many Valley sports fans recognized the same figure in the stands at Phoenix Suns games. Patrick Battillo, better known as “Mr. ORNG,” was covered in bright orange paint and team-themed gear. The high-energy superfan became a familiar sight during both playoff pushes and regular-season nights, serving as a visual symbol of the Suns’ passionate home crowd. But the name resurfaced this week for a different reason.
Mar 15, 2012, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns fan Patrick Battillo (Mr. Orng) wearing an orange suit, sunglasses and face paint applauds during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
For many in the Phoenix area, the development stands out because Battillo was not an anonymous figure. His orange-painted appearances made him one of the most recognizable fans in the arena. Now, the story surrounding “Mr. ORNG” is about a legal case that has brought a well-known name from the stands into the headlines.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
