Doña Ana County ex-sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to sexual assault of woman he arrested
Note to readers: This article discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know experiences sexual violence, you can find local support via La Piñon's 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 575-526-3437 or go to www.lapinon.org.
A former Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department deputy has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the civil rights of an arrestee and obstruction of justice.
Michael A. Martinez, 34, pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a female arrestee by sexually assaulting her inside his patrol car and to obstructing justice by attempting to destroy his patrol car’s WatchGuard DVR system, which had recorded footage from his patrol car’s internal cameras of the sexual assault.
Martinez was fired from DASO on Aug. 30, 2023, according to the FBI in an affidavit. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. He also must pay restitution to the victim and register as a sex offender upon his release.
“Civil rights violations, particularly when they involve a member of law enforcement, are of tremendous concern,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office said in a news release announcing the plea agreement. “The entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve. The FBI will vigorously investigate any officer or agent of the law who is breaking the rules that he or she is sworn to uphold or is violating the civil rights of others.”
Martinez assaulted victim, then attempted to cover up evidence
According to the plea agreement, on April 30, 2023, Martinez responded to a car crash and placed the victim under arrest for driving while intoxicated and careless driving. Martinez took the victim to a medical center and, after the victim received medical clearance, he handcuffed her hands behind her back and put her back inside his patrol car, where he began sexually assaulting her.
Afterward, he took her to the Doña Ana Detention Center.
Several hours later, Martinez attempted to physically destroy his patrol car’s WatchGuard DVR system, which is the patrol car’s internal video camera system that, among other things, records and stores footage from the patrol car’s backseat camera.
According to the arrest affidavit, on May 2, 2023 Martinez reported someone had broken into his police car. A sergeant with the sheriff's department responded, where Martinez said someone rifled through the police unit and damaged his WatchGuard DVR system.
Video sent to Motorola, which manufactures the system, showed Martinez sexually assaulting the woman as she was handcuffed and seat-belted in Martinez's passenger seat.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Las Cruces Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Doña Ana Sheriff’s Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda Villalobos for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
“Law enforcement officers serve the innocent and guilty alike” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M. M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico in a new release. “Being accused of a crime does not deprive you of the basic human right to dignity and respect. If you abuse your position of authority and betray the oath you swore to the public by sexually assaulting those in your charge, your badge will not shield you from justice.”
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Doña Ana County ex-sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to sexual assault
