Norman Ramos - JackAss of the week August 4th, 2007 - August 12th, 2007

[Mike]

Ballplayer in rape case knew girl was underage, report says

Yakima Bears outfielder Norman Joel Melendez-Ramos knew a girl was underage -- but not as young as 15 -- when he allegedly had sex with her last week, according to jail documents released Monday.

Both Melendez-Ramos, 21, and the girl told police after his arrest that she'd given her age as 17, according to a probable cause statement written by Salem police Detective Kristina Knox.

"They talked about sex," Knox wrote in the statement, which establishes legal grounds for jailing a suspect before court proceedings. "He said he wanted to but didn't want to get in trouble."

Melendez-Ramos is being held on $15,000 bail for third-degree charges of rape and sodomy involving the girl, a Marion County judge ruled Monday morning.

Circuit Judge William Richardson set bail after hearing arguments that Melendez-Ramos had known the girl was underage and, despite that, arranged to meet her at the Salem motel where his team was staying.

The charges stem from the girl's age, not because of any force, Salem police said.

Melendez-Ramos wore a blue prison jumpsuit and a pair of handcuffs during his court appearance Monday, and spoke in a subdued tone. No family or representatives from his ball team attended the brief hearing, which took place around 8:45 a.m.

Salem defense attorney Mark Obert was assigned to represent Melendez-Ramos, who had not retained a lawyer.

Melendez-Ramos met the girl July 24, when she asked for his autograph after a baseball game, according to the probable-cause statement.

The Yakima Bears were in town for a five-game series at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer from July 22 through July 26.

The ballplayer gave the teen his phone number, and they spoke by phone on Tuesday and Wednesday, the statement said. They made plans to meet after his game Wednesday evening.

"According to both, (she) said she was 17 and Melendez said he was 21," Knox wrote in the statement.

Melendez-Ramos paid for a taxi to transport the girl around 1 a.m. Thursday from Monmouth to the Comfort Suites at 630 Hawthorne Ave. SE, the Salem motel where his team was staying.

They then engaged in intercourse and oral sex at his motel room, according to allegations made against the ballplayer.

The girl's father found out where she was and went to the motel looking for her, Salem police Lt. Dave Okada said.

To avoid being found, the girl fled out the window of Melendez-Ramos' room. The ballplayer told police "he hid her belongings after she jumped out a window of the hotel," Knox wrote.

Her father called Salem police around 2:20 a.m. Thursday. Officers took Melendez-Ramos back to the police station for questioning and later formally arrested him.

[JGAC]

for what team?

[Rusty27]

These are teams that play in Washington and Oregon so Shane my be able to comment.

[ssigman]

how did the father find out where she was?