Catholic school deacon sentenced after admitting to molesting four girls, now released from custody.
In South Florida, a former Catholic school deacon and teacher has entered a guilty plea regarding multiple counts of child molestation, specifically involving four young students, including an eight-year-old girl. Carlos Humberto Ramirez’s guilty plea was registered in court on Wednesday, following an arrest that occurred in March 2023. At that time, he faced allegations of molesting two female students aged 11 and 12, with subsequent charges related to two additional students.
Prior to his legal troubles, Ramirez served as a deacon and educator at Holy Family Catholic Church and School located in North Miami. As part of the plea deal, Ramirez received a sentence of 29 months in state prison but was released after credit for time served, having been in custody for approximately 31 months. This arrangement has allowed him to exit the Miami-Dade courthouse a free man.
With the plea agreement, several conditions have been imposed on Ramirez’s release. He is prohibited from leaving Miami-Dade County without prior permission and must surrender his teaching license. Additional restrictions include a ban on unsupervised contact with minors and the stipulation that he cannot reside with anyone under the age of 18.
The allegations against Ramirez were detailed in an arrest report where an eight-year-old third-grade girl described inappropriate touching by the deacon on three separate occasions in October 2021. Another account came from an 11-year-old girl who reported that Ramirez had inappropriately squeezed her while receiving classwork.
Initially, Ramirez denied all allegations against him. In a bid for his release on bond, his wife provided testimony to the court insisting on his innocence, citing his character and community service. She maintained that her husband is a man of integrity and has dedicated himself to his local community.
The case has drawn considerable attention, not only for the nature of the charges but also for raising concerns about safety and accountability within educational institutions. The legal outcome has implications for community trust in institutions that are expected to provide safe environments for children. The ongoing discussion surrounding the handling of sexual misconduct allegations, particularly involving figures of authority in schools, continues to resonate within the community and beyond.
Media News Source
