Modesto handyman arrested in home invasion, sexual assault. There could be more victims
A woman told Stanislaus County sheriff’s investigators that she was sexually assaulted and robbed Friday by a person she had hired as a handyman.
Authorities arrested Jose Luis Ramos Rivera, 40, of Modesto in the suspected home invasion. He was booked in county jail. He remained in custody Tuesday with bail set at $600,000, records show.
Investigators said they believe Ramos may have committed crimes against other individuals.
Sheriff deputies responded to the woman’s home at 7:30 a.m. Friday. The woman said she woke up after hearing someone was inside her home. A man wearing a mask and armed with a shotgun entered her bedroom.
The woman told investigators she was tied up, choked and sexually assaulted. The man stole her ATM card and threatened her with injury if she called law enforcement when he left, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.
Ramos is facing potential charges of robbery, home invasion, oral copulation, penetration with a foreign object and assault with intent to commit rape.
The woman told investigators that Ramos had worked for her for several months. She took a photograph of Ramos’ ID when he was hired and that assisted investigators in arresting the suspect.
Other people who might have been victimized by Ramos, or know someone who was, may call Detective V. Esquivez at (209) 652-1792. Anonymous tips are welcome at Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 or go to www.stancrimetips.org.
This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 11:47 AM.
