The Justice Department on Tuesday announced that a former New Mexico deputy sheriff has pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a female that he sexually assaulted in 2023. The incident is a gruesome example of a law enforcement officer abusing his position.
Michael A. Martinez, 34, also pleaded guilty to obstructing justice after attempting to dismantle his patrol car’s WatchGuard DVR system.
Martinez was arrested in September 2023 and accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an unnamed female victim. From a report at that time:
According to a complaint filed in federal court by an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, a sheriff’s office report of the incident says that Martinez responded to a car crash and detained the driver under suspicion that she had been drinking and driving carelessly. Martinez reportedly took her to get a medical check and eventually…
