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31-year-old man, in U.S. illegally, arrested for sexual battery on 16-year-old girl in Polk County

Posted at 2:06 PM, Aug 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-20 14:06:28-04

MULBERRY, Fla. — A man living in the U.S. illegally was arrested in Polk County for sexual battery on a 16-year-old girl.

Jesus Ramirez-Velasco, a 31-year-old man from Mexico, told detectives he knew what he was doing was illegal but claims the girl is the one who asked for sex from him.

Ramirez-Velasco was reportedly the boyfriend of the girl's mother. The victim told investigators that he was the one to initiate sexual contact with her in mid-December against her will.

Detectives say the 16-year-old told them Ramirez-Velasco threatened to harm her mother if she didn't have sex with him again.

"A crime such as this against a child is heinous; to blame the victim for his behavior is appalling." Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Ramirez-Velasco was charged with 20 counts of Sexual Battery of Custodian Victim over 12 (F-1). 

He was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2008 and deported, but he returned illegally. The Polk County Sheriff's Office notified ICE of Ramirez-Velasco's current arrest and charges.