Ex-Metro cop wants to withdraw plea

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997 | 10:51 a.m.

Metro Police Officer Michael Ramirez is trying to withdraw his guilty plea to a felony charge of coercing a Las Vegas couple to perform sexual acts in front of him.

The reason, defense attorney Frank Cremen said Monday, is that the male victim was charged in August with trafficking in cocaine and possessing marijuana.

He added that at the time of the Oct. 4, 1996, incident, the female victim was an Olympic Garden exotic dancer still wearing her "work clothes." The couple said they were gazing at stars when Ramirez approached them near Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas.

In an affidavit, Ramirez denies forcing the couple to engage in sex acts and suggests the couple voluntarily performed in front of him to distract his attention away from searching their car.

He noted that the male carried $1,500 in cash in his pocket and had no identification.

Ramirez, 28, said that it "went through my mind" that the large amount of cash might have indicated the man was involved in drug trafficking.

Although Ramirez denies forcing the couple to perform, he conceded in his affidavit that "they may have had some fear of me of being arrested."

District Judge Don Chairez set a Jan. 9 hearing date on withdrawing the guilty plea.

Although such requests are rarely granted, Chairez said, "If there is the slightest doubt that you are innocent, you should have your day in court."

Ramirez, who is free on bail, faces the possibility of four years in prison when Chairez sentences him on Nov. 24, although probation is an option in the plea bargain.

The couple told police a couple of days after the incident that Ramirez, who was not in uniform but displayed a badge and gun, asked suggestive questions and finally said they could avoid arrest by engaging in a sex act.

The couple, both 28, said they complied out of fear that Ramirez would plant contraband in the car and arrest them or harm them at the remote site.

In his guilty plea to a single count of oppression under the color of office, Ramirez admitted to having the woman disrobe and the man perform a sex act on her while the officer watched.

At the time of the incident, the five-year Metro veteran was on "light duty" because of an injury. He no longer is a Metro officer.