Plea reached in Polebridge sex abuse case
A 55-year-old Polebridge man has reached a plea agreement with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office that drops two of his three felony sexual abuse of children charges.
Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison dismissed the two counts against Theodore Ramon during a change of plea hearing on June 27. Allison took over the case after Ramon’s Whitefish attorney, Jack Quatman, filed a motion on Jan. 8 to substitute Judge Heidi Ulbricht.
Ramon faced from 4-100 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 if convicted of any of the three original felony sexual abuse charges. He would not have been eligible for parole for at least 25 years.
Ramon pleaded not guilty on Nov. 23. Eight days later, he and his wife used the 36 acres of land they own just north of Polebridge to post his $50,000 bond. The land surrounds a four-acre parcel with a cabin where the alleged victim had been living.
According to the May 17 plea agreement, the county attorney’s office recommended Ramon receive a 15-year prison sentence, all suspended, if he pleaded nolo contendre to the single remaining sexual abuse charge. The recommendation was based on a “favorable evaluation” by Missoula psychologist Michael Scollatti.
Ramon must stipulate to the facts supported by police reports and the Oct. 28, 2011, affidavit filed by the county attorney’s office when he was charged, and there will be “no further custodial time as a direct result of this plea,” the document states.
According to the 2011 affidavit, the incidents occurred between June 1, 2009, and July 18, 2011, and involved a girl who was 8-10 years old at the time. The girl told interviewing detectives that Ramon showed her pornographic magazines and videos, talked to her about sexual acts, and offered her cigars, alcohol and drugs.
The girl said Ramon took pictures of her while she had her pants down, asked her to pose in sexually explicit ways and showed his private parts to her. She also said Ramon told her not to tell anyone about what had happened between them or else he would go to jail and her mother would be angry with him.
When interviewed by a detective, Ramon allegedly admitted to taking photos of the young girl with her pants down and explaining sexual activities to her. He also allegedly admitted to being aroused while taking pictures of the young girl and using the pictures later for sexual gratification.
Sometime later, Ramon called one of the interviewing detectives and allegedly said he was angry the girl had not been arrested and charged for her role in the incidents. He allegedly said if it wasn’t for the girl coming on to him, the incidents would never have happened. The girl had requested to do all the things mentioned in the court documents, Ramon allegedly told the detective.
Ramon’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29.