Sonoma County Man Pleads Guilty To Raping His Ex At Marin Headlands

NORTH BAY, CA — A Sonoma County man pleaded guilty this week to the aggravated sexual assault of an ex-girlfriend last August in the Marin Headlands.

Esbin Ramirez-Garcia, 28, of Rohnert Park, was initially indicted Aug. 22, 2024 by a federal grand jury on one charge of aggravated sexual abuse. In pleading guilty Tuesday, Ramirez-Garcia admitted that late in the evening of Aug. 2, 2024, while giving the woman a ride home from work, he asked her to get back together with him. When she refused to resume their relationship, Ramirez-Garcia and the victim got into an argument and he deviated from the normal route to her residence.

Ramirez-Garcia admitted that when the victim asked to be let out of his truck, he grabbed her with his hand and continued driving, forcing her to accompany him.

According to the plea agreement, Ramirez-Garcia drove to the Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and parked his truck in a parking lot just after midnight. Ramirez-Garcia admitted that he forcibly placed his body on top of the victim's body while she sat in the passenger seat and sexually assaulted her.

Ramirez-Garcia has been in custody since August 2024 and his sentencing is scheduled for May 28. He faces a statutory maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin, and National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Acting Special Agent in Charge Betsy Smith made the announcement.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Wistar Wilson are prosecuting this case with the assistance of Sara Slattery, Maureen French and Fernanda Gonzalez.