| For Immediate Release Case # 10HF0027
January 11, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
DRY-CLEANING BUSINESS MANAGER PREVIOUSLY CHARGED WITH RAPING 17-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEE
IN COURT ON NEW CHARGES FOR RAPING
ANOTHER WOMAN
NEWPORT BEACH – A dry-cleaning business manager previously charged with forcibly raping one of his 17-year-old female employees was in court this morning on new charges for forcibly raping another woman. Jaime Zamora Ramirez, 40, Costa Mesa, is charged with two felony counts of forcible rape with a sentencing enhancement allegation for forcibly raping multiple victims. Ramirez has a 1992 prior strike conviction for vehicular manslaughter. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison. Ramirez is being held on $1 million bail. His arraignment was continued to Jan. 28, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
On July 20, 2009, the Orange County District Attorney charged Ramirez with forcible rape for Jane Doe #2. Upon further investigation by the Anaheim Police Department, Ramirez was charged with forcible rape for Jane Doe #1 on Jan. 8, 2010, increasing his maximum sentence from eight years and eight months to 60 years to life in state prison.
Jane Doe #1
In the early morning of Oct. 12, 2008, Ramirez is accused of knocking on the door of Jane Doe #1’s apartment and asking for a beer. They knew each other as friends. After leaving briefly, Ramirez is accused of returning to Jane Doe #1’s apartment, forcing her onto the bed, and raping her.
Jane Doe #2
In the morning of July 11, 2009, Ramirez, a manager of First Class Cleaners in Fountain Valley, is accused of instructing a co-worker to have 17-year-old employee, Jane Doe #2, help with “special deliveries,” requiring employees to drop-off and pick-up customer dry-cleaning.
The defendant is accused of telling a co-worker to drive Jane Doe #2 to Ramirez’s Costa Mesa home to pick up some paperwork for the business when they finished that day’s deliveries. Upon Jane Doe #2’s arrival, the defendant is accused of luring her into his home and leading her to a room where he said the paperwork was located. Once she had entered the room, Ramirez is accused of locking the door and raping her.
Ramirez is accused of threatening to report Jane Doe #2’s undocumented immigration status if she reported the rape and warning that no one would believe her story. Directly following the attack, Jane Doe #2 told co-workers what happened and then reported the incident to the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD). On July 16, 2009, Ramirez was arrested by CMPD detectives at First Class Cleaners.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Tim Craig at (714) 347-8558. Deputy District Attorney Tony Ferrentino of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.