By Joe Johnson
A Clarke County grand jury this week indicted a man who allegedly broke into a University of Georgia student’s apartment and tried to rape her two months ago.
Jose Antonio Ramirez, 30, was charged with criminal attempt to commit rape, false imprisonment, first-degree burglary, robbery by force, and aggravated assault, according to the indictment that was filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.
Ramirez, who as listed as homeless on the county jail’s website, allegedly followed the victim to her home as she walked from downtown early the morning of Oct. 26, according to Athens-Clarke County police said.
In an interview with Classic City News, the 23-year-old victim’s roommate said that Ramirez “stalked” the victim to their home at Steeplechase Condominiums on Oconee Street.
The 21-year-old roommate, also a UGA student, told CCN that she was in bed when wakened by sounds of a struggle inside the residence.
She said she saw a male trying “to control” her roommate, and that when he realized there was a witness in the home, he took the victim’s cellphone and fled.
The witness said that her roommate told her that the suspect forced his way into the residence.
Police initially described the incident as a robbery and released few details about it.
In the days following the incident, police released an image of the suspect from a video surveillance camera and a Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensic artist’s sketch of the suspect.
Police said subsequent information led officers on Oct. 30 to the parking lot at Walmart on Lexington Road where Ramirez was taken into custody.
He was in possession of unspecified evidence that tied him to the incident at Steeplechase Apartments, according to police.
Ramirez was being detained without bail at the Clarke County Jail.
An arraignment date had not been scheduled as of Friday.
Anyone who has been sexually assaulted or knows someone who has can contact The Cottage Sexual Assault Center. The agency provides a range of free services for children and adult victims of sexual and physical abuse, including medical accompaniment, advocacy, referrals and support groups. The Cottage maintains a 24-hour crisis and information hotline at (877) 363-1912.