Ramirez-Garcia rape case to go to trial in August

An August trial date has been set for a resident of southern Mexico who has been charged with sex-related crimes related to an alleged February incident involving a former co-worker in Holton.

During an arraignment hearing on Thursday in Jackson County District Court, Antonio Ramirez-Garcia, 38, stood silent as Holton defense attorney Jason Belveal entered not guilty pleas on charges of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.

District Court Judge Norbert Marek accepted the pleas and set a three-day trial to begin Wednesday, Aug. 1 in district court, with pre-trial motion hearings set for Thursday, May 10 and Friday, June 29.

Ramirez-Garcia has been held at the Jackson County Detention Center on $50,000 bond since Feb. 15, five days after a Holton woman alleged that he raped her at a party at a Holton house.

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