Man found guilty in South Lake Tahoe assault, faces 150 years to life in prison

A jury has found Manuel Ovidio Ramos-Munoz guilty of seven felony counts, including kidnapping for the purpose of committing a sexual assault, as well as six additional counts and numerous special allegations relating to the subsequent sexual assault of the victim.

On June 11, 2015, a 22-year-old exchange student from Macedonia who was in town for a summer job, was taken by knife point by Ramos-Munoz from the steps of her room at the Big Pines Mountain House on Cedar Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. He forced her into the dark, secluded parking lot and repeatedly sexually and physically assaulted her, resulting in numerous injuries.

Ramos-Munoz was a maintenance worker at the motel. An investigation by Sgt. Doug Sentel of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), who was a detective at the time, and others in the department identified Ramos-Munoz as a suspect, and by 10:00 p.m. on the day of the assault he was arrested.

On November 8, 2017, after a three week trial, Manuel Ovidio Ramos-Munoz guilty on all counts. The jury heard testimony from the victim, as well as officers from SLTPD, several others in the medical and criminal fields as well as members of defendant’s family, the defendant’s former co-workers.

After the verdicts, the Honorable Kenneth Melikian remanded Ramos-Munoz into the El Dorado County jail with no bail pending the January 19, 2018, sentencing hearing. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of over 150 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Vern Pierson stated, “Our hearts go out to the victim and her family. We are pleased that we were able to secure justice on her behalf and that this defendant will spend the rest of hi s life in prison for this disturbing and horrific crime.”