Grand Island man jailed for child seduction

GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska (KSNB) – A Grand Island man accused of sex crimes against at least four teenagers has been sentenced to prison.

According to court records, 23-year-old Kevin Martinez Ramirez was sentenced to 10 to 45 years in prison for six counts of using an electronic device to commit sexual assault. Ramirez was originally charged with 22 other crimes, including human trafficking, distribution of obscene material, enticement by electronic device and sexual assault. The other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Police arrested Martinez Ramirez last summer when four victims, ages 14 to 17, reported he tried to have sex with them, asked them to produce child pornography and sent him sexually explicit images of themselves. At the time, police believed there were more victims.

According to court documents, the investigation began when Martinez Ramirez allegedly purchased alcohol for a 15-year-old girl in Kearney. Police said Martinez Ramirez's probation officer was notified, searched his phone and found what she believed to be child pornography.

The phone was turned over to police. In an affidavit, the GIPD stated that despite the seizure of his phone, Martinez Ramirez purchased a new one and created new Snapchat accounts and continued to contact underage girls by phone and in person while the investigation was ongoing.

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