A 32-year-old man and his 73-year-old mother, an assistant principal at a Phoenix middle school, are facing criminal charges after Glendale police say they uncovered a years-long pattern of sexual abuse against two teenage sisters. Vicente San Diego Ramirez was booked on multiple felony offenses including sexual conduct with a minor and child exploitation, while Dr. Ramona Ramirez was arrested on charges of child endangerment and failure to report abuse.
A Teen's Report to a School Officer Opens the Case
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the investigation began on October 14, when a 16-year-old girl approached a Glendale police school resource officer and reported allegations against her adopted brother, Vicente Ramirez. The teen told the officer the abuse had been going on for years, beginning when she and her 15-year-old sister were about 9 years old. Police say Vicente Ramirez abused both victims since that age and videotaped the abuse.
Glendale Police Special Victims Unit detectives and the Arizona Department of Child Safety quickly took over the case, the station reports. The two sisters underwent forensic interviews at the Glendale Family Advocacy Center, and DCS took temporary custody of both teenagers to ensure their safety.
Surveillance, Search Warrants and Two Arrests
Investigators put Vicente Ramirez under surveillance and executed search warrants at two homes tied to his name, seizing potential evidence, per the same account. He was ultimately booked into Glendale City Jail on charges of sexual conduct with a minor, indecent exposure, exploitation of a minor and molestation, and a judge set his bond at $250,000 cash.
Detectives say the victims had previously told Dr. Ramona Ramirez about the alleged abuse, and that she failed to report it to authorities. Officers took her into custody after a traffic stop and booked her into Maricopa County Jail on charges of child endangerment and failure to report abuse. Authorities had not released her bond conditions or scheduled court dates for either defendant as of publication, the article notes.
School District Responds, Calls Case Unrelated to Her Job
Dr. Ramirez is an assistant principal at Isaac Middle School in Phoenix and was placed on administrative leave following her arrest. Isaac School District #5 Superintendent Dr. Lily Mesa-Lema informed families of the leave, writing that the arrest was entirely unrelated to her work with Isaac Middle School students or her duties within the district. The district said it would follow up with appropriate next steps as additional information becomes available.
What Arizona Law Requires of Mandatory Reporters
Arizona statute spells out the obligation at the center of the failure-to-report charge against Dr. Ramirez. A person who has a duty to report and direct knowledge that a minor is or has been the victim of abuse or neglect shall immediately report the abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Safety and may not delegate another person to make the report, according to Arizona Legislature statute. Guidance published by the Arizona State Board of Education further instructs school personnel that a verbal or written disclosure from a child, or reliable information from a third party, is enough to trigger a report, and that staff do not need to investigate before reporting.
