Coolidge employee charged with molesting girl for 10 years
Mar 7, 2014, 1:33 PM | Updated: 1:55 pm
PHOENIX — An Coolidge, Ariz. city employee was arrested Thursday on suspicion of molesting the child of a family friend for 10 years.
The unidentified victim, who is now 19, said Luis Ramirez began molesting her when she was 9 years old. The girl said she never told anyone because she did not feel that anyone would believe her.
“Victims of sex crimes often don’t come forward out of shame, fear and because they don’t feel anybody would believe them,” Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said in a press release.
The girl alleged Ramirez attempted to initiate inappropriate contact as early as February.
Ramirez was charged with child molestation, sexual abuse and sexual conduct with a minor. He has admitted to some of the allegations.
Babeu said he was proud of the victim for coming forward.
KTAR’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.