Local teen arrested Saturday on warrants for alleged rape, assault of 14-year-old girl
A local teen was arrested Saturday on felony warrants for rape and sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl he allegedly molested multiple times over an extended period of time.
Serafin Ramirez Bahena, 19, who lists a Holy Spirit Loop address, was taken into custody shortly before 2:30 p.m. and charged with rape, punishable by up to life in prison, and second-degree sexual assault, punishable by up to 20 years.
Bahena was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Garland County sheriff’s investigators received a report Wednesday regarding sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl by a known suspect, identified as Bahena.
That same day, Bahena was interviewed at the sheriff’s department by investigator Jennifer Tonseth and reportedly admitted to raping the victim a couple of months earlier. He also reportedly stated that on other occasions he had touched her on her buttocks, breasts and privates “when she was flirting with him.”
On Thursday, the alleged victim was interviewed at the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and reportedly stated that since she was 7 years old Bahena had fondled her, mostly during the summer when he was babysitting her.
She stated that on June
6, he raped her while he had his hand on her throat. She said about a week before the interview he had fondled her breasts while she was at his residence.
A warrant for Bahena’s arrest on both felony charges was issued last week.
• Two local teens were arrested early Sunday on felony and misdemeanor charges after they were allegedly found in possession of guns, including an illegal sawed-off shotgun.
Nicholas Dean DeArmon, 18, of Lonsdale, and a
16-year-old male were both taken into custody shortly after 2 a.m. and charged with a felony count of criminal use of a prohibited weapon, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of being a minor in possession of a handgun, punishable by up to one year in jail.
DeArmon was also charged with a felony count of possession of a defaced firearm, punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of criminal use of a prohibited weapon involving a set of brass knuckles.
DeArmon was being held on
$9,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. The 16-year-old was taken to the Garland County Detention Center and will be arraigned in Garland County Juvenile Court.
The Sentinel-Record follows The Associated Press privacy policies and does not publish the names of juvenile offenders unless they are charged as adults.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around
12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Kellar, Cpl. Jon Lane and Deputy John Crow responded to the 3000 block of Park Avenue regarding some people seen in the woods behind a residence. While searching the area, Kellar and Lane located two males, identified as DeArmon and the juvenile, walking along the tree line of the woods in the 100 block of Devane Place, located just off the 3000 block of Park.
It was noted both teens “appeared nervous” and were acting “in a belligerent manner.” In searching the juvenile for weapons, the deputies reportedly found a 9-mm handgun in his jeans pocket and a loaded, sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun in a backpack he was wearing. The backpack also contained 48
20-gauge shotgun shells and numerous other calibers of ammunition.
In searching DeArmon, they reportedly found a set of green brass knuckles in his right front pocket. DeArmon was questioned after being read his rights and allegedly stated the shotgun and pistol belonged to him.