Teen accused of having sex with Bonita girl

A La Belle teenager has been arrested after investigators said he had sex with an underage girl in her Bonita Springs home.

Erik Ramirez, 17, of 2925 Evans Road, was charged with lewd and lascivious battery Tuesday after the girl’s parents returned home to find Ramirez and their daughter exiting a bedroom with each wearing only a towel, according to reports.

The girl, described only as being between 12 and 15 years old, told police and her parents the sex was consensual, and the pair had been dating for several months. The two knew each other from school, though reports did not say where they attended.

Ramirez was arrested because the girl is younger than 16, said Lee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Angelo Vaughn.

Under Florida law, no one under 16 can consent to sex with anyone older than 16, Vaughn said. Though Ramirez is still considered a minor, he can face felony charges for having sex, Vaughn said. Ramirez since has been released from the Lee County jail.