ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A man wanted in a child sexual assault cold case was arrested late Wednesday night.
Juan Jose Bernal-Ramirez, 62, was taken into custody about 11:33 p.m. by Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office deputies. He was recently charged with three felonies in a 2016 sexual assault case, the Asheville Police Department said in a Dec. 10 news release. Bernal-Ramirez was charged with first-degree statutory sex offense and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.
The case was reported to police in 2016 but went cold, the release said. The case was reopened after “new evidence came to light,” leading to charges against Bernal-Ramirez, the news release said.
Detectives assigned to the Family Justice Center led the investigation and filed charges after consulting with the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office.
Bernal-Ramirez was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under no bond.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has information related to a similar incident is urged to contact The Buncombe County Family Justice Center at 828-250-6900.