Woman Accuses Murrieta Mayor of Sexual Harassment

Photo via Harry Ramos’ official Facebook

By City News Service

A mother of three alleged Thursday that Murrieta Mayor Harry Ramos groped her, pursued her sexually and even attempted to force himself on her during a party earlier this year -- all of which the mayor called “completely false.”

Kathleen Smith of Ramona went public with her accusations during an appearance alongside her attorneys in front of Murrieta City Hall, announcing that a claim had been filed against the city seeking unspecified damages for Ramos’ alleged misdeeds while carrying out his official duties.

“I was sexually abused as a child, and this brought it all back,” Smith told City News Service immediately after the briefing. “It has caused a lot of emotional trauma. It’s very disappointing that somebody with power would take liberties and assert that power to prey on someone like me.”

According to the woman, during a Jan. 22 “Mega Mixer” at the Murrieta Spectrum Mall attended by representatives from chambers of commerce throughout southwest Riverside County, she encountered Ramos, who began pawing at her and would not let up in the roughly three hours they were at the location.

“He was very aggressively coming onto her -- very, very overtly,” said Smith’s attorney, Dan Gilleon.

Gilleon acknowledged that both Smith and Ramos were drinking at the affair, but said his client, then working as a sales rep for an area radio station, was by no means under the influence.

“She had two glasses of wine,” he said.

Gilleon outlined a scenario in which Smith spurned all of Ramos’ advances, but the honorably discharged Marine would not give up.

“He grabbed her butt. She was shocked, but she agreed to let him walk her to her car,” Gilleon said. “As they’re walking, he kisses her, sticks his tongue down her throat and tries to block her way.”

Despite his overbearing behavior, Smith consented to giving the mayor a ride to his car at the other end of the parking lot, according to the attorney.

“He climbs over into her seat and puts his hand up her skirt,” Gilleon said. “She doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t want to make the guy angry.”

Ramos eventually exited the vehicle after Smith “politely” asked him to leave, Gilleon said.

The plaintiffs identified three witnesses to the alleged acts.

The mayor told City News Service “the allegations are completely false.”

“This is another black eye for the city of Murrieta in the name of politics,” Ramos said. “There’s a lot more to this.”

Ramos declined to elaborate, saying he will provide a fuller response to Smith’s claims during a news conference of his own Friday outside City Hall.

The city has six months to respond to the claim for damages. Assistant City Attorney Jeff Morris told CNS that the city council could take up the matter in closed session, or just ignore it.

If the claim is not resolved, Smith intends to file a lawsuit against Ramos and the city, according to Gilleon.

“If we go to court and win, I don’t see a jury awarding less than seven figures,” he said.