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December 1, 2015 - Judge Ronald Hansen is scheduled to formally sentence Arthur Gonzalo Martinez (63) of Los Banos to serve 28 years in state prison on December 4, 2015 after Martinez pled guilty to four felony counts of forcible child molestation. This culminated a nearly one year investigation by the Merced County District Attorney’s Office and Los Banos Police Department. 

This investigation began in December 2014, when Los Banos Police were provided with a micro secure digital (SD) card alleged to belong to Martinez. The District Attorney’s investigations unit teamed up with Los Banos PD detectives to assist in accessing the contents of the micro SD card.  A search warrant to the card was obtained, and the contents were forensically processed by the Merced Police Department’s computer forensics unit.  MPD Detective Daniel Dabney reported that the SD card contained over 30 images of “known” child pornography. “Known” images of child pornography are images that have previously been identified as depicting nude, or partially nude, children under the age of 18, engaged in some type of sexual activity. 

Investigators became particularly concerned because the SD card contained a number of child pornography images dating from 2009 that were “unknown”, not previously identified. Investigators believed these images were possibly obtained from an, as yet, not identified Internet source of child pornography, or were possibly proof that Martinez had sexually abused a minor female some years earlier. In addition to images of child pornography, investigators determined that the SD card also contained “invasion of privacy” type videos in which an unsuspecting minor or adult woman was recorded in various stages of undress.      

MCDA Supervising Investigator Wayne Hutton proceeded with the investigation believing that there was at least one, possibly more, minor children that Martinez had sexually abused.  Hutton was eventually able to identify two potential victims without tipping Martinez off to the ongoing investigation.  In early Jan 2015, DA investigators and Los Banos detectives served search a warrant at Martinez’s Los Banos residence.  At the same time, Martinez was arrested on a warrant alleging his possession of child pornography and having taken “invasion of privacy” type video recordings. 

During the Jan 7, 2015 search of Martinez’s residence, Hutton uncovered information that lead to identifying the name of the female juvenile who was a victim of sexual abuse by Martinez.  Following the identification of the female victim, Hutton turned to DA investigators from Lake County and Sacramento County District Attorney’s Offices for help in locating the girl.  The girl was eventually located and interviewed by Hutton.  Based on that interview, Hutton sought and obtained another warrant for Martinez’s arrest alleging 34 felony counts of child sexual abuse, the sexual abuse of the victim was alleged to have occurred when the child was 11 years old. 

Martinez was out of custody on bail from the child pornography charges and on Jan 26, 2015 when he was arrested by investigators from the Merced County District Attorney’s Office outside of a courtroom in the Merced Superior Court’s Building. Martinez was taken into custody on a warrant for his arrest that had been issued on Jan 23, 2015, by Judge Mark Bacciarini. The warrant listed thirty-four felony juvenile sexual abuse charges. Bail was set at $4,625,000. 

Investigators believe that in 2009, Martinez (56 years of age at the time) “groomed” the 11 year old girl into feeling safe and comfortable around him.  He then systematically sexually abused the 11 year old victim for a period of about four months. Investigators also learned that the girl attempted to report the abuse to family members in 2009, but she was not believed at the time and no police reports were made.  

District Attorney Larry D. Morse II said, “Martinez has been in custody since the date of his arrest last January. With this sentence, it’s likely that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the crimes he’s committed, given his age.” Morse added that, “It’s incredible that investigators were able identify an unknown victim of unreported child sexual exploitation - over five years after the crimes occurred.   This was just good police work and serves as an excellent example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies pool their resources and talents to work together.”

Martinez could have faced a maximum life in prison if convicted of all of the crimes alleged by investigators.  Deputy District Attorney Michael McKinney, who prosecuted the case, said that he spoke to the now 18 year old victim of this case, and she was pleased with the outcome of the prosecution and the lengthy prison sentence.  McKinney added, “When she was a child, she disclosed the abuse, yet nothing was done.  Despite that, she remained courageous and consistent.  Now through this investigation and prosecution, we were able to help a long since forgotten victim obtain justice.” 
Source: Merced County D.A.