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Norfolk man enters guilty plea in Cedar County sexual assault case

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HARTINGTON — A Norfolk man pleaded guilty Monday to a Felony charge of First Degree Sexual Assault involving a Cedar County teenager.

Monday’s court hearing was only supposed to be an arraignment for Jesus Ramirez, 25, Norfolk, but prior to the court hearing Ramirez’s attorney worked out a plea agreement, so he agreed to plead guilty to the charge Monday.

Ramirez is charged with having sexual intercourse with a 15 year-old Cedar County girl at her home in March 2019. He is also charged with having intercourse with the girl at his Norfolk home in May 2019. He faces another First Degree Felony Sexual Assault charge in Madison County.

The plea agreement calls for any sentences doled out for the two crimes to be served concurrently instead of consecutively.

When sentences run concurrently, defendants serve all the sentences at the same time. When sentences run consecutively, defendants have to finish serving the sentence for one offense before they start serving the sentence for any other offense.

Prior to accepting Ramirez’s plea, Cedar County District Judge Bryan Meismer made sure Ramirez was aware that each count carries a possible sentence of from 1-50 years imprisonment.

The Judge also advised Ramirez that he is not legally bound to accept any prior plea agreement that may have been reached by his attorney.

Ramirez pleaded guilty to the charge.

Judge Meismer also said he was required to tell Ramirez if he is not a citizen of the United States, a felony conviction could adversely affect his legal residency status here.

Judge Meismer set sentencing in the case for March

9. A pre-sentence investigation must first be conducted. Judge Meismer requested that investigation be completed and filed with him by March 5.

The Judge also set Ramirez’s bond at 10 percent of $250,000. Ramirez is currently being held at the Madison County Jail.