Crime & Safety

SC Man Charged in Second Bizarre Ritual Rape

Alberto Ramirez allegedly told his victims he was performing a "spiritual cleanse."

From City News Service:

A 37-year-old San Clemente man charged with raping a woman in a bizarre "spiritual cleansing'' ritual in a Santa Ana motel room was charged today with doing the same to another woman.

Alberto Flores Ramirez was charged last month with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by foreign object, according to Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky.

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Today Bokosky filed an amended complaint that charged him with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and attempted forcible oral copulation with a sentencing enhancement allegation for sex crimes against multiple victims.

Ramirez initially faced a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted at trial, but now he faces up to 75 years to life in prison, Bokosky said.

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Ramirez made contact with the second alleged victim through Facebook and continued to exchange text messages with the 49-year-old woman, the prosecutor said. The woman got on a bus with a friend in Las Vegas to meet with Ramirez in Santa Ana Feb. 17, Bokosky said.

Ramirez and the women met at a discount store so she could buy items needed for a "spiritual cleansing'' ritual to help her with her love life. Ramirez said he would do the ritual for no charge, but she had to buy ammonia and eggs, the prosecutor added. Ramirez and the woman went to the Aloha Motel in the 2400 block of South Main Street in Santa Ana, where he is accused of raping her while the friend waited outside, Bokosky said.

Ramirez poured the ammonia over the woman's head, making her dizzy, Bokosky said. He tried to make her perform oral sex on him, but she was too disoriented, so he performed oral sex on her, Bokosky alleged. Ramirez also was accused of raping the woman, who struggled to stop him.

The alleged victim did not report the sexual assault until she saw media reports about another woman who accused Ramirez of raping her, Bokosky said. Ramirez and the 33-year-old Simi Valley woman initially met on the social-networking site called Badoo, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

The woman told Ramirez that she was hoping to bring her two young children to the United States from Mexico, and he said he could help her with that if she underwent a "spiritual cleansing'' ritual, Bertagna alleged.

The two met at a McDonald's restaurant in Santa Ana about 6 p.m. on April 3, Bokosky said. About 45 minutes later, they went to the Aloha Motel, where he started the ritual that involved her lying on a bed and him cracking raw eggs in a glass, Bertagna alleged.

Ramirez allegedly told the woman "she has a lot of evil spirits and he has to perform the ceremony a second time, but she has to take her clothes off,'' Bertagna said. The woman was uncomfortable with that, but eventually agreed to strip down to her underwear, Bertagna said. Ramirez allegedly rubbed raw eggs on the woman and fondled her, Bokosky said. When she attempted to use a comforter to cover herself, Ramirez allegedly pounced on her and held her down as he sexually assaulted her with his fingers.

Ramirez is accused of threatening the woman to stop struggling as he performed oral sex on her and raped her, Bokosky said. The woman, whose name was withheld, went to police and reported the alleged rape, Bertagna said. Ramirez kept in touch with her via text messages and agreed to meet her at a discount store, where police were waiting to arrest him last month, Bertagna said.


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