On September 19, 2025, law enforcement responded to the emergency department to take a report of a sexual assault that had occurred early that morning in Moorhead, Clay County, MN. Victim is a 18-year-old female who met another young female named B. D. Through SnapChat. The two made plans to hang out and were picked up at approximately 10 P.M. On September 18, by a male, J. X. The group stopped at a liquor store and then went to an apartment in Moorhead. RICARDO MENDOZA- BANDERA, DOB 0304/1988, hereinafter "Defendant" was already at the apartment.
Victim had never met or talked to J. X. Or Defendant before. The four of them consumed alcohol and Victim [NAME REDACTED] was more intoxicated than the others. At some point during the night, B. D. And J. X. Went into a bedroom and Victim [NAME REDACTED] in the living room with Defendant. Victim [NAME REDACTED] on the couch and Defendant began playing with her hair and tried to kiss her. Victim told him no and pushed him away. Defendant then took his pants down and exposed his penis in front of Victim's face.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] onto the floor to try and get away from him. Defendant followed her to the floor and began attempted to remove her clothing. Victim was wearing a strapless top and Defendant pulled her shirt down and tried to suck on her breasts. Defendant continued to pull Victim's pants down as she tried to keep them up. At this point, Victim [NAME REDACTED] on the ground and Defendant was behind her. Defendant was able to pull her pants down far enough to vaginally penetrate Victim [NAME REDACTED]. Defendant kept lifting and pulling Victim's waist up off the ground and Victim tried to drop her waist down to get away from him but was unsuccessful.
Defendant then put his penis back in front of Victim's face and said, "please baby please". Defendant's penis did not penetrate Victim's mouth but did touch her lips. Victim was able to stand up and leave the apartment. Victim [NAME REDACTED] called her brother, who lived nearby. She called him at approximately 3:45 A.M. Victim [NAME REDACTED], who dispatched emergency services to bring her to the hospital. Victim [NAME REDACTED] invasive Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner kit. The evidence from that kit was transferred to law enforcement and sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
Victim's father reported that when Victim [NAME REDACTED], she was crying and difficult to understand. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been raped and he could hear her throwing up/dry heaving. Victim's brother described her as being absolutely distraught. He described her as being so drunk that she could barely walk by herself and he had to help her. Detective Krone spoke with Defendant. Defendant confirmed that Victim was at his apartment that night and claimed that Victim wanted to perform oral sex on him, but he kept saying no.
Defendant denied engaging in any sexual contact with Victim. Lab results came back from the SANE kit and the samples collected from Victim's vagina and perineum matched Defendant's DNA. Victim [NAME REDACTED] on the chest during the assault and the injury was noted during the medical exam. 3 14-CR-26-805 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 3/13/2026 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
