‘Mr. ORNG’: Suns superfan, former Peoria basketball coach pleads guilty to child sex crimes

PEORIA, Ariz. – A Phoenix Suns superfan and former head basketball coach at a Valley high school has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes charges.

As part of a plea deal, Patrick Battillo pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Under his plea agreement, four additional charges he faced were dropped.

The backstory:

Battillo was known to fans as “Mr. ORNG,” appearing at many Suns home games. Battillo, the former varsity boy’s basketball coach at Peoria High School, was arrested in 2024 after a teenage boy reported to school staff that Battillo sent him messages, soliciting video that depicted the teen in various sexual acts and in various states of undress.

Following his arrest, Battillo was indicted by a grand jury.

What’s next:

Battillo is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17.

Patrick Battillo, a man who is known as Phoenix Suns superfan “Mr. ORNG,” pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.