Hotel Employee Charged For Raping Guest In St. Paul

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A St. Paul hotel employee has been charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.

Nolasco Lopez Ramirez, 25, was found guilty of raping a female guest at the Days Inn he was employed at, located on University Avenue.

According to the criminal complaint, Lopez Ramirez, who was the head of housekeeping at the hotel, knocked on the victim's door and was allowed to enter after identifying himself as hotel staff. The women propped the door to the room open with a baby stroller. Her 9-month-old child was also in the room.

The victim stated Lopez Ramirez kept getting closer to her, which made her uncomfortable. In an attempt to get him out of her room, she entered the bathroom to gather dirty towels from the floor. Lopez Ramirez followed her into the bathroom, closed the door and committed the sexual assault.

The victim screamed for help several times. The complaint states Lopez Ramirez responded to her screams by pulling out a $5 bill and saying, "This will take care of it."

After Lopez Ramirez left the bathroom, the woman saw members of the maid service outside her door. Lopez Ramirez tried to leave the room, but she slammed the door in his face.

Officers later located a man who fit the description provided by the victim. They detained Lopez Ramirez and the woman later identified him.

The hotel's front desk clerk told police Lopez Ramirez "had been acting really touchy and weird lately," according to the criminal complaint.

Lopez Ramirez said he drank a bottle of whiskey he found in an empty room prior to the assault. He also said he did not remember assaulting the victim. Police did not notice a smell of alcohol or any behavior that indicated he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Lopez Ramirez will make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.