Mason City man pleads not guilty to sexual abuse charge

MASON CITY — A Mason City man has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing a teenage girl.

According to a criminal complaint, a sex act took place sometime in February or March between 34-year-old Ruben Ramirez and a 15-year-old girl at his residence in the 500 block of North Adams. Police say that Ramirez was aware of the girl’s age at the time.

Ramirez was charged in May but he failed to appear for a court hearing in June, with a nationwide warrant being issued for his arrest. He was located in the Dakota County Jail in Nebraska and was brought back to Iowa where he was arraigned on Tuesday, entering a written plea of not guilty to one count of third-degree sexual abuse. District Judge James Drew set his trial to start on November 19th in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

Third-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison. Ramirez is in jail on $10,000 cash-only bond.