Alleged Greenfield rapist makes first court appearance

UPDATE: 3/21/2018 2:36 p.m. The Greenfield man accused of raping a teen after getting her drunk made his first court appearance Wednesday.

During his arraignment, 32 year-old Niceforo De Jesus Ramirez was assigned a public defender and entered a not guilty plea.

Ramirez faces three sexual assault charges, including rape and child molestation.

Ramirez is accused of getting a 13-year-old Greenfield girl drunk, raping her, and dumping the victim near a park. Right now, he is held at the Monterey County Jail with no bail.

Monterey County Assistant District Attorney, Berkley Brannon said, “If an offense involves violence, which under the law this offense qualifies, the court has the discretion to set no bail.”

The court upheld that decision at Ramirez’s arraignment, during which he was appointed a public defender and entered a not guilty plea. If convicted, prosecutors said he could be locked up for a decade.

Brannon said, “One count would be eight years in prison. (It) would be the maximum for one count. There are three separate counts here”

The rape case sounds too familiar to investigators. Last summer, two young girls were found on sidewalks in Greenfield with lethal blood alcohol levels. One of them was raped. Five people were arrested in connection to that rape case. However, police said this crime is committed by a different group.

Greenfield Police Sgt. Armando Mendoza said, “As of this moment, we see no link or connection. Only the cases are both very similar.”

Police said the 13-year-old victim is recovering well and she’s been providing investigators crucial information for the case. Ramirez will be in court again on March 28th.

PREVIOUS STORY: A 13-year-old Greenfield girl was raped and dumped near a park.

According to Greenfield Police, the incident took place on March 11.

32-year-old Niceforo Ramirez De Jesus and a 14-year-old boy met with the victim near Palm Avenue in Greenfield. De Jesus purchased alcohol for the minors and they began drinking at a park.

Later in the evening, De Jesus took the teen girl to another park where they continued to drink and she eventually passed out.

“De Jesus waited for the victim to wake up; however, as she was still intoxicated and unable to take care of herself, he began to sexually assault her,” said Sgt. Christopher Webb.

The victim passed out again, and De Jesus left her near the park. Family members found the girl the next morning and took her to the hospital.

On March 19, officers located and arrested De Jesus for rape, lewd acts with a child under the age of 14, annoying or molesting a child and oral copulation of a child under 14-years-old.

Police said the investigation is ongoing to determine if the 14-year-old boy was involved, but he has not been charged with any crime.

De Jesus was booked into Monterey County Jail and currently being held on no bail.