Providence Man Convicted of 3 Counts Of Sexual Assault

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man was convicted after he repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman in 2021, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Friday.

On Thursday, following, a four-day trial before Superior Court Justice Luis Matos, a jury found Hector Ramirez, 38, guilty of three counts of first-degree sexual assault. Ramirez will remain held without bail until his sentencing at a later date.

"Sexual assault is chronically underreported for many reasons, and so each time we bring a perpetrator of sexual violence to justice, I hope it helps other victims remember that they are not alone," Neronha said. "This defendant’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that offenders of sexual violence will be held accountable for the enormous trauma they inflict upon their victims. I am grateful to the Warwick Police Department for their outstanding work and partnership in this case and so many others."

During the trial, prosecutors proved that on March 6, 2021, Ramirez sexually assaulted a woman at the Motel 6 in Warwick.

That night, a friend of the victim invited her to a house party in Providence. Following the party, the victim’s next memory was waking up in an unknown location while being sexually assaulted. Later that day, the victim reported the sexual assault to Women and Infant’s Hospital.

Prosecutors said an investigation by Warwick police matched DNA results from the victim’s sexual assault exam with Ramirez, which led to his arrest.

"Sexual assault cases are some of the most difficult cases we investigate," Warwick Pilice Chief Bradford Connor said. "While there is no justice that can undo the pain caused to this victim, I commend her bravery throughout this process and thank Detective McGaffigan and our partners at the RI Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecution of this case."