LOGAN — A 53-year-old Lewiston man has admitted to repeatedly abusing and raping a young girl two years ago.
Jose Rafael Ramirez was arrested in December 2025 following an investigation by the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, Ramirez appeared June 24 in Logan’s First District Court. He pleaded guilty to amended charges of aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony, and three counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
Prosecutors said deputies began investigating Ramirez in August 2024 following a child abuse complaint. Months later, the victim reported the defendant had physically and sexually abused her multiple times.
The girl told deputies the abuse started when Ramirez caught her calling family members in Mexico over social media. He became angry, grabbed her phone and smashed it on the ground.
The abuse continued over the next several years. On several occasions, Ramirez molested and raped her while she was in bed. In another instance, he sexually assaulted her after drinking tequila and forcing her to drink as well, according to charging documents.
Ramirez, who is reportedly not a U.S. citizen and is in the country illegally, remains held in the Cache County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12 and could face up to life in prison.