A Lancaster man was convicted this week of lying and having a pre-teenage child lie to officials about being abused – so the man could win a custody dispute.

A local jury convicted 40-year-old Luis Rosario-Ortiz of misdemeanor false reports of child abuse regarding incidents between October 2018 and April 2019.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Muller presented evidence that Rosario-Ortiz created false stories of alleged abuse shortly before custody conferences regarding a divorce between he and his estranged wife.

The 7-year-old child testified that she told the stories of abuse because she was scared of being punished by Rosario-Ortiz if she did not.

The jury convicted Rosario-Ortiz on Wednesday afternoon, following three days of testimony.

Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn Jr. will order sentence after a background investigation is completed in a couple months.

Northern Lancaster County Regional police investigated the reports of abuse and determined they were false.

The woman testified that the reports were false, and that Rosario-Ortiz was abusive to her during their relationship, which ended in April 2018.

ADA Muller called to testify several Children & Youth Services staffers, two police officers, medical professionals and therapists.

CYS witnesses testified that all the abuse reports were determined to be unfounded.

Northern Lancaster County Regional police Detective Eric Zimmerman filed the charge.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright