22-year-old admits to raping Tri-Cities teen met online, buying her alcohol
A 22-year-old man is facing two years in prison after getting alcohol for two teens, taking them to Richland and raping one of them.
Robert G. Ramirez of Richland pleaded guilty in Benton County Superior Court on Wednesday to third-degree rape of a child and providing a place for minors to drink.
Now he is facing about two years and two months to two years and 10 months in prison when he’s sentenced.
Prosecutors plan to ask for the minimum end of the range along with court orders preventing any contact with the two teens in the case.
In addition, they want Ramirez to have three years of probation and get treatment for substance abuse, court documents said. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Ramirez has a history of problems with alcohol. He was convicted in 2023 for a drunk driving crash that left his sister and two children hurt, court documents said. He was sentenced to six months in jail.
A second man, Marco Antonio Elias Tejada, 24, of Pasco, remains charged with second-degree rape, third-degree rape and supplying liquor to minors.
2 teens attacked
Ramirez arranged to meet the teens in June 2024 after talking to one of them on social media. The two men picked them up outside a Kennewick high school, court documents said.
The men allegedly bought alcohol. After drinking in a Richland park, they went to Ramirez’s apartment, where the teens were also given drugs.
Elias Tejeda allegedly demanded sex and held one girl down, said court documents.
The other teen was allegedly sexually assaulted while unconscious.
As the group was leaving the Mowry Square apartments, one girl “caused a disturbance” and some concerned passersby called 911 and gave a description of the car.
About the same time, girls were reported as possible runaways from where they lived.
A Benton County sheriff’s deputy eventually spotted the suspect car and officers arrested Elias Tejeda and used a drone to find Ramirez hiding and arrested him, said court documents.