Former Metro officer given probation, house arrest in sex case

Bill Gang

Friday, April 24, 1998 | 11:51 a.m.

As he had been promised in his plea bargain, former Metro Police Officer Michael Ramirez was given probation and house arrest today for coercing a Las Vegas couple to perform sexual acts in front of him.

Ramirez declined to speak in his own behalf, fussing about the charges and complaining about what he termed "the politics" of the case.

His female victim, her voice quivering, told District Judge Myron Leavitt that every time she sees a police officer, "I am reminded of the nightmare."

She said that if she could understand Ramirez's motives, "I would be as sick as he is."

"Sick" is also the term Deputy District Attorney Thomas Moreo used to describe the 28-year-old ex-lawman who now lives in Phoenix.

"Ramirez is a voyeur," Moreo said. "He likes to find people in compromising positions or likes to put them in compromising positions."

In asking Leavitt to impose a prison term, Moreo said Ramirez seemed "proud when he talked about that night" and commented to fellow officers, "All this and a paycheck too."

"He's a sick person," Moreo said. "It's quite obvious, but he's not willing to admit it."

Defense attorney Frank Cremen said that Ramirez still maintains the sexual act performed in front of him was voluntary although, "Mike would acknowledge that what happened was wrong."

Leavitt put Ramirez on probation for three years with the requirement that he be on house arrest for six months. The judge also fined Ramirez $5,000 and ordered him to pay $1,500 in restitution to the victims. If the defendant fails probation, he would be imprisoned for 12 to 40 months.

Ramirez had pleaded guilty on March 31 to two counts of oppression under the color of office.

Defense attorney Frank Cremen said the plea bargain was too enticing to pass up because it avoided the possibility Ramirez could be convicted at trial of sexual assault, which carries a life prison term.

Leavitt had said that Ramirez would be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and stand trial if he were not given probation.

Still, Ramirez was reluctant to admit any wrongdoing or that he used his badge, gun and the indirect threat of arrest to force the couple to engage in sex in front of him at an isolated spot near Red Rock Canyon on Oct. 4, 1996.

When Leavitt asked him in March if he had done those things -- a required admission in a guilty plea -- Ramirez paused for several seconds, diverting his gaze away from the judge and finally answering, "Yeah."

Deputy District Attorney Vickie Monroe said that Ramirez was on "light duty" at the time of the incident and was not authorized to be in the area or making traffic stops. She pointed out that if Ramirez had been performing a legitimate police function when he approached the couple, he would have radioed in his location and asked for a check of the vehicle's license plate. He didn't.

The couple had complained to 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 some contraband and arrest them or harm them at the remote site.

As a result of the complaint, the man was fitted with a recording device by Metro investigators and arrangements were made for him to encounter Ramirez at a restaurant.

The resulting tape recording is said to have confirmed the couple's story, as did a later interview by Ramirez with detectives, prosecutors said.