Shasta County Alleged Child Molester Jailed Before Trial
Jesus Ramos-Maldonado on May 6th was arraigned on charges of alleged sexual battery and child molestation at Shasta County Superior Court in front of the Honorable Judge Adam B. Ryan, who ordered Ramos jailed, raised his bail from $50,000 to $250,000, and made him subject to a child protective order.
The Mountain Top Times previously reported that Ramos was arrested on August 10th by the Redding Police Department for Sex Crimes including:
288 (c) PC:F – Lewd and Lascivious Act W/Child Age 14/15: Defendant at least 10 Years Older 11D; 2)
243(d) PC: M – Sexual Battery For the Purpose of Sexual Arousal 11D.
Ramos, with a Spanish language interpreter and wearing a headset to understand courtroom proceedings, pleaded not guilty to the charges. But several people told the Mountain Top Times that they had overheard Ramos before the proceedings in the court hallway clearly speaking in English with his attorney. A number of people also reported Ramos tends to speak English at his Redding restaurant, La Concina de Chuy.
Ramos’s defense attorney stated that his client is not a flight risk because he owns a local business, has a family in the county, and is invested in our community. Ramos’ defense attorney added that he has over 10 character witness letters to submit in defense of Ramos.
Ramos stated that after he was arrested in August and bonded out for this issue, no charges were filed when he was required to appear at the Shasta County court on September 15, 2023, December 22 2023, and March 2024.
The Shasta County District Attorney’s office requested that the court increase Ramos’ prior bond to $100,000 on May 6th, stating that the number of counts Mr. Ramos is facing have increased and that Ramos continuing to operate a restaurant near K-12 schools is a public safety concern.
Judge Ryan stated that when he originally read the filing he had recommended a higher bail, but because it took so long [9 months] to bring the case before him for an arraignment, the bond had already been posted for a lower amount.
Judge Ryan asked if this case was such a public safety issue, why the District Attorney’s office had not filed anything for the previous dates when the defendant appeared. The Assistant District Attorney stated that once the defendant is on bond, cases that need immediate action were prioritized and the Ramos case was placed in a basket of cases that have a lesser urgency.
During the Judge and the deputy DA’s discussion, Ramos became visibly uncomfortable and removed the headphones connected to his interpreter. The interpreter did continue to whisper in Ramos’ ear, but it seemed clear that Ramos understood the nature of the proceedings.
Judge Ryan agreed that there is a safety to the community concern and ordered new bail be set at $250,000, Mr. Ramos be remanded into custody, and there will be a protective order issued for the safety of the juvenile victim.
Judge Ryan set a hearing date for May 15th at 8:30 a.m. in the morning
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