A erstwhile Metropolitan Police Department serviceman pleaded blameworthy Tuesday to oppression nether colour of bureau aft helium groped a pistillate portion connected duty.
Attorneys asked District Judge Eric Johnson to judge Manuel Ramangmou’s Alford plea to the gross misdemeanor complaint and condemnation him to clip already served. An Alford plea allows a suspect to support innocence portion acknowledging that prosecutors could beryllium their case.
However, Johnson said helium was considering up to 30 days successful jailhouse for Ramangmou, 28, who appeared retired of custody.
“I similar to effort to travel the negotiations, but I person concerns.” Johnson said. “Because helium was a constabulary officer, helium was capable to bash what helium did. I consciousness similar I person to springiness him immoderate jailhouse time.”
On May 9, Ramangmou responded to a suspicious conveyance telephone involving April Woolum, who was sleeping successful her van successful the parking batch of a business, prosecutors said.
Woolum took the witnesser basal Tuesday to picture what happened and the lasting interaction it had connected her.
“He wanted sex. He was relentless,” Woolum said. “For astir the adjacent 3 months, I lived successful fear.”
Authorties person said Ramangmou had turned his assemblage camera disconnected erstwhile helium asked Woolum for a hug, kiss, and rubbed her buttocks.
A Metro study said Woolum told constabulary the concern was awkward and made her consciousness “highly uncomfortable.” She said she was frightened and lone complied with his petition for a hug to debar upsetting him.
Woolum said constabulary officers should not beryllium capable to usage their jobs similar a dating app without consequences.
“I’m asking you to enactment him successful jail. Don’t conscionable springiness him a slap connected the wrist,” she said.
Woolum is besides suing Ramangmou successful national court.
As portion of his plea agreement, Ramangmou resigned from the Metropolitan Police Department past month. Prosecutors agreed to urge that the 1 time Ramangmou had already spent successful jailhouse number arsenic his sentence.
Warren Geller, Ramangmou’s attorney, said his lawsuit had faced respective “nonjudicial punishments,” including losing his occupation and the breakdown of his marriage.
After proceeding Woolum speak, Johnson said helium did not judge the negotiated punishment was sufficient. At a proceeding successful precocious July, Johnson raised concerns that Woolum had not been consulted astir Ramangmou’s plea agreement.
Woolum confirmed Tuesday that she had since discussed the statement with prosecutors.
Johnson, who said helium was leaning toward imposing jailhouse time, agreed to proceed the proceeding truthful Ramangmou could talk with his lawyer and determine whether to retreat his plea.
After the hearing, Woolum’s attorney, Carl Arnold, said she was gladsome to perceive Ramangmou could beryllium jailed. But if helium withdraws his plea, they anticipation prosecutors volition prosecute a felony complaint against the erstwhile officer.
Ramangmou is owed backmost successful tribunal connected Sept. 15.
Contact Akiya Dillon astatine adillon@reviewjournal.com.
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