Montpelier man facing life imprisonment on child sexual abuse charge

BRYAN — A Montpelier man charged with child sexual abuse has entered a plea here in Williams County Common Pleas Court to a charge that carries a potential life sentence.

Ray Ramos, 53, pleaded guilty to rape, a first-degree felony, with a specification stating that he is a “sexually violent predator.”

According to court documents, Ramos was informed when he entered his plea that the charge is “punishable by a mandatory term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.” He also will be classified as a tier III sexual offender requiring lifetime registration of his address with authorities.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and his $50,000 bond was continued.

Ramos continued to be held Friday in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio where he has been incarcerated since April 5, according to jail records.

Six counts of rape, each a first-degree felony, will be dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement between his attorney, John Shaffer of Bryan and Williams County Prosecutor Katie Zartman’s office.

The charges allege that on March 15 Ramos engaged in sexual conduct with an 11-year-old child on multiple occasions.

A Williams County grand jury returned the charges in April. Each of the seven counts had included the specification mentioned above as well as a specification that he “compelled the victim to submit by force or the threat of force.”