WORTHINGTON - Cesar Lopez-Ramon, 19, of Worthington, was sentenced Tuesday morning in Nobles County District Court for a first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.
Lopez-Ramon was found guilty by a jury Dec. 15 after having intercouse with a juvenile younger than age 13.
According to court records, the Worthington Police Department received a May 2 call from a social worker from the Nobles County Community Services and the guardians of the alleged victim notifying them of a possible sexual conduct case.
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The victim was interviewed and underwent medical examination at Child’s Voice in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she disclosed she had been sexually penetrated by Lopez-Ramon. The victim was placed in an emergency protective hold and temporarily placed in the custody of child protective services pending further investigation.
After the victim identified the suspect from a photo, Lopez-Ramon was interviewed by law enforcement. He told officers he was related to the owner of the victim’s residence and admitted to having a sexual encounter with the victim.
Lopez-Ramon was placed under arrest and transferred to the Nobles County Jail.
An advocate from the Southwest Crisis Center read a letter written by the victim on Tuesday. The statement described the experience the victim has been going through and how it has affected her life, from being placed in foster care to daily reminders of the day of her assault.
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Lopez-Ramon also had the opportunity to say something before his sentencing. He said in court that he “was sorry for what happened and hopes for forgiveness.” He added that he was under the influence of alcohol and “didn’t know what he was doing.”
Judge Gordon Moore told Lopez-Ramon that court is not the place to ask for forgiveness after a jury found him guilty and encouraged him to seek therapy. Moore said he hopes that the victim can overcome the assault and will “keep doing what a 12-year-old is supposed to do.’
Lopez-Ramon will served eight years in prison and, if he shows good behavior, four years on conditional release. He will have an additional 10 years of conditional release and will be registered as a predatory offender.
The maximum sentence of a first-degree criminal sexual conduct is 30 years in prison, a $40,000 fine or both.
