Restauranter Headed to Prison for Sexual Battery of Minor Employee
Shasta District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett successfully prosecuted 52-year-old child molester Jesus Ramos-Maldonado, proprietor of La Cocina de Chuy Restaurant, who will now be imprisoned for 2 years and 8 months and registerer as a sex offender for life.
According to a local parent, dozens of minors were at La Cocina de Chuy Restaurant just below Shasta High School, having tacos and soda at just after school. The owner came in and asked if anyone wanted a job, many hands went up and a minor girl was hired.
The enthusiastic young girl began working with Ramos-Maldonado’s and his family. There were small gifts and compliments at first. The molestation started with hugs, advanced to locking the girl in a banquet area with a bunch of men engaging in catcalls, then advanced to attempts at touching.
Thankfully, the girl quit after two months and had enough trust in her mother Demery Clemens, to confide about her fears and embarrassment. The family made a referral to the Redding Police Department.
Redding PD Investigator Lauren Meyer interviewed the 15-year old molestation victim, then called Ramos-Maldonado who “admitted to employing the female victim, corroborated a number of allegations regarding the victim working at his place of business, and apologized,” according to “Sex Crime #RPD@#-032396-1.”
Ramos Maldonado was arrested on August 10, 2023 for lewd acts and sexual battery against a 15-year old female employee:
288 (c) PC:F – Lewd and Lascivious Act W/Child Age 14/15: Defendant at least 10 Years Older 11D,
243(d) PC: M – Sexual Battery For the Purpose of Sexual Arousal 11D.
Ramos-Maldonado was transferred to the Shasta County Jail, confined for approximately three days. After three days, he was released on a cash bond.
The family of the victim contacted the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office and expected some immediate action, because the business is within three hundred yards of five K-12 schools that were scheduled to open for the 2023-2024 term in late August.
The case took a number of turns, including Ramos-Maldonado claiming to the Shasta County DA Office that he did not understand English and that it was all a cultural misunderstanding. Ramos-Maldonado was then provided under law with an interpreter.
After eight months, the victim’s family contacted Chairman of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors Kevin Crye, their District 1 Supervisor. Based on the victim’s documentation substantiating the allegations, Chair Crye made several referrals to Shasta County resources, including the Mountain Top Times that began updating our 10,000 readers with a series of articles.
As the pressure intensified with Shasta DA Bridgett’s filing of an indictment seeking over 6 years in prison on April 17, 2024, Ramos-Maldonado realized he could speak English in his own defense. The restaurant at some time during this period was closed.
Eleven months after his arrest, Mr. Jesus Ramos Maldonado in July pleaded guilty to Sex Crimes. He was sentenced last week to serve 2-years and eight months in prison, be on probation for another ten years, and register as a sex offender for life.
The Mountain Top Times in its commitment to protect children, has joined with Guardians for Freedom
https://www.guardiansforfreedom.org/
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