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Decorated Ex-Tulare County Sheriff's Sgt. Indicted for Rape, Other Violent Crimes
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
July 21, 2020

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Less than five years ago, Richard Ramirez stood proudly in the Tulare County Board of Supervisors chambers.

Portrait of former Tulare County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Richard Ramirez
Richard Ramirez on Dec. 2, 2015, when he received the Medal of Valor for his life-saving efforts under a hail of bullets. (Facebook/Tulare County Sheriff’s Office)

Wearing his deputy’s dress uniform, the veteran detective and Sgt. Victor Bonilla each received the Medal of Valor from Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux for their life-saving efforts under a hail of gunfire during a check on a parolee in Porterville.

They were just the fifth and sixth deputies in the organization’s history so honored.

“It was almost like out of a movie, and fortunately no one was hurt,” Boudreaux said. “It could have gone a different way but because of these two men’s actions this guy was pinned down and everyone was able to get out safe. … They’ve been around a long time — 17 years each — they have the training, the character within themselves, that inner voice, and just know how to act.”

Indicted on 11 Counts Monday

Ramirez was promoted to sergeant before his world came crashing down last year when he was arrested for allegedly beating, stalking, and harassing a woman following an investigation by Visalia police.

On Monday, a Tulare County Grand Jury indicted the former sergeant on charges of felony forcible rape, spousal rape, domestic violence, and other crimes.

There were 11 counts in all — three more than he was charged with last year. One of the new charges is that Ramirez disobeyed a court order following his September 2019 arrest.

In a news release, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said that the alleged crimes occurred between October 2008 and July 2020 in Tulare County against two victims. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 15.

Ramirez, 46, was taken into custody without bail following Monday’s indictment. He had been out on a $250,000 bond following his previous arrest.

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Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

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