Authorities say man raped child

Suspect is facing 25 counts for sex acts with 10-year-old

REDWOOD CITY — A 39-year-old man has been arrested on a score of allegations that he repeatedly raped and molested a 10-year-old relative over the past year, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Benjamin Ramirez Ruiz, who lives in an unincorporated area of Redwood City, was booked Sept. 21 into the San Mateo County jail on more than two dozen sexual-assault offenses involving a child, authorities say. Ruiz is being held on $3.9 million bail.

The Sheriff’s Office was contacted Sept. 20 by someone reporting that a 10-year-old child had been molested by an adult family members at a home in the North Fair Oaks area, alleging that they “occurred numerous times during the past year.”

Detectives summoned the county Children and Family services division to secure the child’s safety, and launched an investigation that implicated Ruiz, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies found Ruiz the next day and arrested him on suspicion of the following crimes:

3 counts of forcible n rape

7 counts of lewd n and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old

7 counts of forced n sexual penetration with a child under 14 years old

5 counts of forced n oral copulation with a child under 14 years old

1 count of oral n copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger

1 count of sexual n acts with a child 10 years old or younger

1 count of continuous n sexual abuse of a child 14 years old or younger while living in the same home or having recurring access to the victim

Anyone with information about the case or any other potential crimes involving the suspect can contact San Mateo County Sheriff’s Detective Dan Hoss at 650-3634066 or dhoss@smcgov.org. Anonymous tips can be left at 800547-2700.