Former Johnson County deputy faces rape charge in Overland Park

A former Johnson County Sheriff's Office deputy allegedly admitted in text messages to being "too handsy" with a woman he is accused of raping at her Overland Park apartment.

Justin Patrick Ramirez, 44, of Spring Hill, is charged with rape of a physically powerless person in Johnson County District Court. The charge stems from an alleged assault the night of Aug. 3 or early morning of Aug. 4 at the woman's residence, according to a probable cause affidavit reported by The Kansas City Star.

The woman told Overland Park police she and Ramirez were friends who had been drinking at her apartment, according to the affidavit. She said she fell asleep on the couch and was awakened when Ramirez sexually assaulted her, court records state.

The following day, Ramirez texted the woman and apologized for "getting too handsy," according to court records. Investigators who reviewed the messages said Ramirez admitted to touching the woman, the affidavit states.

A third party whose name was redacted from court records confirmed to investigators that Ramirez had told them about the incident, according to the affidavit.

The woman told police she was afraid to report the assault because she had not been believed when she was assaulted as a child and young adult, court records state. She did not receive a sexual assault exam because of the delay in reporting but brought clothing to police as possible evidence, according to the affidavit.

Deputy fired the day of arrest

Ramirez had worked as a Johnson County Sheriff's Office deputy since April 2016, according to KMBC. Kristen Boxman, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said Ramirez was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 26 and terminated on Sept. 25, the day of his arrest.

"Any action that violates these standards is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Boxman wrote in a statement.

Ramirez turned himself in at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Central Booking Facility in Olathe at 4:21 p.m. on Sept. 25, according to the Johnson County Post. He was initially held on $500,000 bond. A judge later lowered the bond to $50,000 after his attorney argued the original amount was twice what it should have been, court documents show.

Ramirez posted bond and was released from custody on Sept. 28, according to Fox 4.

His bond conditions include house arrest, GPS monitoring, no contact with the woman, and no firearms, alcohol or controlled substances, according to court records. He has no prior criminal history, according to court records cited by the Star.

Vanessa Riebli, Ramirez's attorney, declined to comment while the case is ongoing, the Star reported.