Attorney General Alan Wilson says prison inmate convicted of sex crimes against a minor used contraband cell phone to commit more sex crimes against a minor

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that a state prison inmate will spend another decade behind bars after pleading guilty to using a contraband cell phone to commit more sex crimes against a minor.

In Jasper County on February 14^th, Ruben Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 3^rd Degree, and one count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Person Under Age 18.

In October 2021, investigators with the South Carolina Department of Corrections found that an inmate had been communicating with a 14-year-old girl through a contraband phone. In their communications, Ramirez received nude pictures of the minor and sent pictures of his genitals to the minor. Ramirez was serving a total of 20 years in prison for convictions in 2008 on Kidnapping, Lewd Act on a Child Under 16, Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2^nd Degree, Burglary 1^st Degree, and Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill.

Judge Robert Bonds sentenced Ramirez to 10 more years in prison. He was not given credit for any time served in prison after his arrest. He will have to register as a Tier III sex offender upon his release.

Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Kyle Senn prosecuted the case for the state.