A man accused of sexually assaulting multiple boys while helping run a youth baseball program in Franklin, Tennessee, has been arrested in the Dominican Republic, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Authorities say he fled after learning he was under investigation, and they believe there may be more victims.
Fernando Gonzalez Ramirez, 32, a Panamanian citizen, faces state charges in Williamson County, Tennessee. The allegations involve incidents in Franklin between 2023 and 2024.
Key facts from the Marshals' release:
- The investigation began after two boys reported that Gonzalez had assaulted them.
- Franklin police led the investigation. The Office of Stacey B. Edmonson, district attorney general for Tennessee's 21st Judicial District, is prosecuting the Williamson County charges.
- Authorities say Gonzalez left Tennessee after learning he was being investigated.
- Marshals investigators traced him to Mexico, Japan and Panama before learning on Monday that he was in the Dominican Republic.
- A lead went to the agency's foreign field office there, and Gonzalez was in custody within hours.
- He was flown to New Jersey on Tuesday evening and is awaiting extradition to Tennessee to face the charges.
- Authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified.
The charges are allegations, and the case is still moving through the legal process. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about Gonzalez can contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2 or usmstips@usdoj.gov.
For league administrators, the case is a reminder of why screening and child-protection policies matter in volunteer-run youth programs. Those policies are among the main safeguards a league has.
Source: FOX 13 Tampa Bay