How Could You? Hall of Shame -Maurice Martinez UPDATED

By Rally on 1-21-2011 in Abuse in foster care, How could you? Hall of Shame, Maurice Martinez, Oklahoma, Utah

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Oklahoma City, OK, police officer Maurice Marinez, an 18-year veteran and 11-year foster parent, “was arrested on two complaints of lewd and indecent proposal/acts with a child and one complaint of forcible oral sodomy” He had 3 adopted sons and 3 foster sons in his home, ages 12-17. Oklahoma City Police Officer Arrested For Sex Crimes

[Fox23.com 1/20/11]

Update 1: Other foster children come forward to say that they were not abused, accuse other child of lying.

Foster Children Deny Sex Allegations Against Sgt
[KOCO.com 1/21/11]

Update 2: Cop’s lawyer claims 14-year old accuser has admitted to lying, but no official statement of lying has been made by the accuser. “Officers said they are sticking to the case until the teenage boy comes forward and makes a statement disproving claims that he was asked by Martinez to perform sexual acts.”
Lawyer: Teen in Officer’s Sex Case Admits Lying
[KOCO.com 1/24/11]

Update 3: Sgt Martinez’s family “provided News Channel 4 with a DVD of the alleged victim changing his story.

The unnamed teen said on the video, “It’s all stupid. I mean, I was mad at him. We got into a fight and I just wanted to get back at him and all I did was really cause a big mess that did way more than I ever intended. It’s all a lie, everything that I have said.”

The alleged victim has not recanted his allegations to authorities, nor have authorities seen the video.

Victim Recants Sex Assault Story

[KFOR.com 1/25/11 by Lance West]

Update 4:It has been almost 2 months since more information has become available for this case.

The alleged evidence on affidavit: “Investigators found photos of police Sgt. Maurice Martinez’s foster children in various stages of undress, a video of a foster child describing sex acts performed with another child, hundreds of photos of homosexual pornography and a surveillance camera in a child’s room when searching the arrested officer’s home in January, according to an affidavit…Police found images of nude and seminude foster children under Martinez’s care among the hundreds of photos of homosexual pornography discovered on Martinez’s cell phone and computer, according to the affidavit. Investigators also found a video of a foster child holding a $1 bill, saying it was payment for sex acts performed with another foster child. Another video of the child who described the acts shows him being beaten, kicked, choked and tackled by other children.

Martinez has taken care of dozens of foster children, all boys, over the last decade.”

The alleged cover-up: “The affidavit was filed Friday in Oklahoma County District Court to establish probable cause in the Friday arrest of Thomas Frank Salazar, 31, of Oklahoma City, whom police accuse of breaking into Martinez’s home overnight Jan. 20 as police took a break from searching it…
A confidential informant who is not identified in the affidavit told officers Salazar was the person who sneaked into Martinez’s home while it was under police guard during a break in the search of Martinez’s home, Hurst wrote. The informant told police Salazar broke into the home at Martinez’s direction…

Dobbs also told investigators Salazar was the person who burglarized Martinez’s home and that Salazar took some evidence and planted other things, Hurst wrote. Dobbs told police the accuser and other children had described to him abuse by Martinez before.

Salazar told The Oklahoman in January he was never in Martinez’s official custody, but that Martinez took him into his home when he was a teenager and provided him guidance. He said he supported Martinez and thinks he’s innocent. Salazar has previous felony convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and concealing stolen property, court records show…Salazar was arrested as an accessory after the fact on complaints of lewd acts with a child, lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child under 16 and allowing abuse by a caretaker, according to the affidavit. He has not been charged. He was released on $40,000 bail, jail records show.”

The child accuser: “The boy, who is 16, told officers Martinez began abusing him when he was 14…The boy told investigators Martinez fondled him and had the boy fondle Martinez, according to the affidavit. He told police Martinez asked him to perform a sex act, but he refused, and that other children in Martinez’s care also had been abused.”

Alleged corroborating evidence: “Another former foster child, Troy Dobbs, 18, of Fort Drum, N.Y., corroborated the informant’s statements when police went to New York to interview him. Dobbs said he took the accuser to a fast-food restaurant, where Martinez pressured the boy to recant on video.”

Alleged coercion of the accuser: “The boy later recanted his accusations to police, and Martinez’s family provided media outlets with two videos that purportedly showed the accuser saying he lied to investigators. Investigators accuse Martinez of orchestrating those videos and being present when they were filmed.”

Evidence Detailed Against Oklahoma City Officer Accused of Sex Abuse

[The Oklahoman 3/14/11 by Michael Kimball]

Update 5: “Oklahoma City police have arrested Sgt. Maurice Martinez again, and he now faces more than a dozen charges that include kidnapping and forcible sodomy.”

“Oklahoma City Police Capt. Patrick Stewart said investigators recently received new information in the child molestation case against the sergeant.

Back in January, two of Martinez’s foster children ran away from DHS protective custody. Federal police received information that one of the runaways was possibly being held against his will near Salt Lake City, Utah. Local police performed a child welfare check, and the boy was taken into custody.

After learning of the allegations, police pulled over Martinez’s car Friday at 1:45 a.m. at the intersection of S.E. 44th and Sooner in Oklahoma City. The 44-year-old had one of his adopted children in the car with him, but the boy took off running when police stopped the car.

Police say during the arrest, they were forced to use a taser gun on Martinez. He was taken to the Oklahoma County jail where he’s being held with no bond.

Martinez now faces several charges, including one count of kidnapping, two counts of harboring a runaway juvenile, seven counts of sexual abuse by a caretaker and two counts of forcible sodomy.”

“The foster child who was with Martinez when police stopped the car later called 911, saying he was cold and hungry. He was taken into protective custody.”

Oklahoma City Police Officer Tasered, Arrested Again In Child Molestation Investigation
[News 9 4/15/11]

Update 6: Martinez “threatened to kill his chief accuser, police investigators and himself, police reported Monday.”

“Maurice Martinez, 44, was rearrested early Friday after a witness reported the threats and revealed the officer sent the accuser — an adopted son — to Utah, police reported. Martinez is being held in the Oklahoma County jail.

The witness “came forward to law enforcement” Thursday “due to very strong concerns for the safety” of the adopted son who made the accusations, Oklahoma City police investigator Rocky Gregory reported in a court affidavit.”

“Authorities Thursday evening found the teenager in Tooele, Utah, where he was living with a family, police reported. The teenager was taken into custody.”

“The adopted son who made the accusations confided to people at church in January that Martinez molested him, police reported. The teenager eventually also told police investigators he had been sexually abused. He also said sexual abuse was ongoing with other children in the officer’s care, police reported. He later recanted those statements.

The teenager was in an Oklahoma County juvenile shelter, but he ran away March 18, police reported.

The new witness told police Martinez gave the teenager $400 and put him on a bus “to hide out” with a family in Utah “the very same day he had been reported as a runaway,” Gregory wrote in the court affidavit.

Police said the new witness once was a foster child in the officer’s home. The witness, now 21, told police he saw the officer sexually abuse the adopted son and two other teenagers “all while they lived with Martinez in Oklahoma City,” Gregory wrote.

The new witness disclosed he also was “a victim of sexual abuse by Martinez while being a foster child,” Gregory wrote.

The witness told police he and Martinez drove to Tooele, Utah, earlier this month, according to the affidavit. He told police the teenager was living there in the home of a friend of Martinez. He told police Martinez was paying the friend.

He told police he slept on a couch in Utah, but Martinez and the teenager “slept in a bedroom behind a locked door together,” according to the affidavit.

The witness also told police Martinez took a .38-caliber handgun when they went to Utah, according to the affidavit. The witness said the teenager sent text messages last week that he was scared and wanted to leave the house in Utah, according to the affidavit.

Police reported they arrested Martinez on Friday at SE 44 and Sooner Road after he was led to believe he was going to a covert meeting with the witness. Police said he did not have a gun at the time of his arrest.”

Witness in sex-crimes investigation against Oklahoma City police officer said he feared for accuser’s safety
[The Oklahoman 4/19/11 by Nolan Clay]

Update 7: On April 22, 2011, 37 charges were brought against Martinez. “Maurice A. Martinez, 44, also violently struck one of those boys in the head, prosecutors alleged in the charge. Police reported finding a video of that blow on the officer’s computer.”

“Martinez faces 32 felony counts of sexual child abuse. He faces three other felony counts — threatening a witness, child pornography possession and child abuse.

He faces two misdemeanor counts — harboring an endangered runaway child and conspiracy to obstruct an officer.

Most of the sexual abuse counts involve the adopted son who first reported being molested. Prosecutors alleged that adopted son was sexually abused 23 times since Aug. 15, 2009. Prosecutors also alleged Martinez made threats this month to keep the adopted son from testifying.”

“Prosecutors and police identified the other sexual abuse victims as two other adopted sons and a former foster son.

Some of the offenses date back to 2008 and 2006, prosecutors alleged.”

“Police reported the former foster son and another witness said Martinez had threatened to kill his accuser numerous times. Police reported the two also said they heard Martinez threaten to kill a church elder, police detectives “and anybody who ‘snitches’ on him.”

“The threats were detailed as to shooting them and or putting a bullet in their head,” police reported. “Martinez has also made numerous statements … he would also take his own life.”

Police reported the former foster son also said he was offered a down payment on a car if he would lie to police and claim he was the one who looked up the child pornography found on the officer’s computers.

In a court affidavit, police reported five boys related how they were physically abused by other boys in the home, but the officer would do nothing. One boy told police he was kicked, punched and “made by the other foster kids to run around naked,” police reported. Another boy said other boys hit him and tied him to a bed.”

Oklahoma City Police Sergeant Charged in Sexual Abuse Case
[The Oklahoman 4/23/11 by Nolan Clay]

“During his more than a decade of foster parenting, Martinez cared for about 60 foster children, according to the Department of Human Services. Police said he adopted some of the boys.”

Okla. police sergeant once honored for dedication to children accused in sex abuse case
[Screaming Eagle Media 4/23/11 by Associated Press]

Update 8: Judge denies bail after Sgt. Martinez issues this plea,”I got elderly parents. I got a bunch of stuff I got to do. Could you set a bond, please?”

Judge Denies Bail, Says OKC Sergeant Poses Threat To Public
[News 9.com 5/2/11]

Update 9: “A veteran Oklahoma cop and longtime DHS foster dad is speaking out from jail about charges he sexually molested his adopted son and other foster children.

“I am innocent of all these false allegations,” Maurice Martinez said. “I’ve had over 60 kids in my care over the last 11 years and only one very troubled kid made these claims. I’m being held wrongfully without bond and I look forward to my day in court to prove that I’m innocent.”

Officer Martinez with the Oklahoma City police department for 18 years and over the years has fostered more than 50 boys. He’s charged with 37 felonies including child pornography.”

OKC Police Officer Accused Of Molesting Adopted Son: I Am Innocent
[News 9.com 6/6/11]

Update 10: “A preliminary hearing in the case of Maurice Martinez, a former Oklahoma City police officer and foster parent, will continue Tuesday morning. Testimony began on Monday. Two of Martinez’s former foster children provided testimony.

A packed courtroom listened Monday as one of Martinez’s former foster kids calmly described a history of abuse. He told the courtroom Martinez touched him inappropriately and he witnessed other teens performing sexual acts on Martinez.

However, a second witness says it’s not all true. ”

Attorney: Foster Son To Defend Former Officer In Abuse Case
[KOCO 8/23/11]

Twenty-three counts against Martinez have been dropped due to “insufficient evidence.” “Oklahoma County Judge Larry Jones said that the credibility of two men who have testified against Martinez is questionable.

Martinez still faces 14 counts and has been bound over for trial on at least eight of them, including charges of sexual abuse and child pornography.

Testimony on Tuesday centered on hundreds of photos that were found on Martinez’ iPhone. Defense attorneys said Martinez’ foster and adopted boys also had access to his smartphone. Attorneys argued that one of the people who testified on Monday appeared to have bisexual tendencies and could have downloaded photos onto his iPhone.”

Numerous Counts Against Former Police Officer Dropped
[KOCO 8/23/11]

“Prosecutors have called a sex crime detective and two computer forensic experts to the Oklahoma City Police Department to talk about the graphics found on an I-phone and computer that were seized at the Martinez’s home.

But the defense team was calling into question whether the search warrant issued for that phone was even legal, since certain details were left off of the warrant.

The defense also had plans to call its own set of witnesses, but it was denied by the judge. Those witnesses were going to be several of the adopted sons who were going to testify that Martinez did not molest them and nothing ever happened the way it was reported.”

“Despite the fact that judge has dropped more than 22 of the counts against Martinez, the judge has bond Martinez over for trial, So he will face at least one sexual crime against children count, one child pornography possession count, as well as one abuse of a care taker count.

In light of the numerous charges being dropped, the defense says it plans to file a motion to have Martinez’s bond reconsidered.”

More Than 20 Counts Against OKC Police Officer Accused of Molestation Dropped
[News9 8/23/11 by Adrianna Iwasinski]

Update 11: Martinez is asking for felony charges to be dismissed. “His attorneys told his trial judge, Don Deason, those alleged victims say nothing sexual happened.”

“The preliminary hearing judge on Wednesday ordered Martinez to face trial on the remaining felony counts after prosecutors said they would not appeal last week’s dismissal.

Martinez still faces nine felony sexual abuse counts. He faces three other felony counts: attempting to prevent a witness from testifying, possession of child pornography and child abuse.

Martinez faces two misdemeanor counts: harboring an endangered runaway child and conspiracy to obstruct an officer.

The attorneys want the trial judge to dismiss all but the witness count and the conspiracy count.”

Former Oklahoma City police officer wants more of his case dismissed
[The Oklahoman 8/31/11 by Nolan Clay]

“Most of the charges involve sex crimes against children–those children being some of Martinez’s adopted and foster sons.”

“His attorney is also trying to get the judge to consider their request for a bond to be set, now that most of the counts against Martinez have been dropped.

“It is very frustrating for my client to be sitting in jail when we know these young men are willing to come to court and testify that nothing happened,” said David Slane, one of Maurice Martinez’s attorneys.

Martinez is accused of sexually abusing four of his adopted sons and is a former foster parent of the year.

One foster son testified he witnessed the sexual abuse of one of those adopted sons.”

“His family continues to stand behind him.”

“A bond hearing has been set for Sept. 19th”

Martinez Back In Court Seeking Charges To Be Dropped
[News 9 8/31/11 by Adrianna Iwasinski]

Update 12: Bond was set at $175,000 during a hearing on Monday, September 19, 2011. On Tuesday, he made bail and is OUT. “However, Martinez’ release comes with stipulations.He will have to live with his parents and will be required to wear an ankle monitor with GPS capabilities. Martinez is not allowed to leave Oklahoma, and he is not allowed to have contact with any of his alleged victims.”

Former Police Officer’s Bond Set At $175,000
[KOCO 9/19/11]

Former Officer Accused Of Rape Makes Bail
[KOCO 9/20/11]

“Last month, a preliminary hearing judge dismissed 23 of 35 felony counts that were filed against Martinez, who took care of dozens of boys over the years. His attorneys want the trial judge to dismiss all the witness counts and the conspiracy count.

Martinez, who resigned from the police department in July, also faces two misdemeanor counts — harboring an endangered runaway child andconspiracy to obstructofficers.

In May, Deason rejected a defense request to allow Martinez to stay at his parents’ home in Oklahoma City under strict supervision while awaiting trial. A police detective testified Martinez had threatened his accusers, witnesses, people who reported the accusations to police, state Department of Human Services personnel and herself.

Martinez had been free on $80,000 bail but was arrested a second time in April after authorities found his accuser — one of his adopted sons — in Utah.

Police accused Martinez of buying a bus ticket for the boy, who ran away from DHS custody after Martinez’s first arrest.

“Assistant District Attorney Gayland Gieger told the judge Monday, “thisdefendant has interfered with potential witnesses.”

Also during Monday’s hearing, a legal representative for two of Martinez’s alleged victims, said the defendant has made a number of calls to the boys that “were inappropriate and troublesome.”

Bail set at $175,000 for former Oklahoma City police sergeant accused of molesting adopted sons[The Oklahoman 9/19/11 by Tim Willert]

Update 13: File under Unbelievable Gall.

“A former Oklahoma City officer accused of molesting his adopted sons may soon get to see them.

The attorney for Maurice Martinez is filing a motion to make that happen.

Last month, Martinez was released from the Oklahoma County Jail on $175,000 bond and placed under house arrest.

He denies the allegations and says he wants to clear his name.

As for the adopted children, Martinez’s attorney says they want to see him.”

Former OKC Officer Accused Of Molesting Sons Wants To See Them
[News 9 10/5/11]

Update 14: “Defense attorneys for a former Oklahoma City police officer accused of sexually abusing his adopted and foster sons are trying to prevent his cell phone from being used as evidence.

Maurice Martinez appeared Thursday in an Oklahoma County courtroom for a pretrial hearing. His attorney submitted a motion to suppress evidence to prevent Martinez’s iPhone from being entered into evidence.

Priscilla Helm, an inspector with the Oklahoma City Police Department, testified she seized the phone and examined its contents. During cross examination, she said she seized the phone to prevent anyone from erasing evidence from it.

Helm also testified there were text messages on the phone between Martinez and one of his adopted sons. At the time, the boy was in state custody after being removed from Martinez’s home.

Prosecutors also questioned Rocky Gregory, a detective with the Sex Crimes Unit. He testified the unit received information Martinez had contact with the boy, even though he was told not to. The detective also testified he felt Martinez was trying to influence his adopted and foster children, who were potential witnesses in the case.”

Cell Phone Takes Center Stage At Pretrial Hearing For Former OKC Police Officer
[News 9 2/23/12 by Adrianna Iwasinski and LaShauna Sewell]

Update 15: Martinez “pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to two years in the county jail.

Maurice A. Martinez, 46, of Oklahoma City, avoided a trial and potentially a lengthy prison term by reaching a deal with prosecutors that includes two years of house arrest when he is released from jail and 25 years’ probation, court records show.

With credit for time served, Martinez likely will be out in a year. Prosecutors said the plea bargain came after it became clear witnesses were reluctant to testify against him.

Martinez pleaded guilty to 12 felonies, including nine counts of sexual abuse of a child, and one count each of attempting to prevent a witness from testifying and possession of child pornography and child abuse, records show.

He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of harboring a runaway and conspiracy to obstruct an officer.

Martinez also waived his right to appeal or seek commutation, parole or pardon, and agreed not to seek employment as a law enforcement officer or care for children, prosecutors said.

He also will have to register as a sex offender.

Neither Martinez nor his attorney, David Slane, would comment outside of court.”

“Prosecutors’ response

Prosecutors said they agreed to the deal because they felt Martinez had influenced, even intimidated, his accusers to the point where they became uncooperative.

“They had made it very clear they were uncomfortable testifying and were even recanting some of their prior statements,” Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Gayland Gieger said Tuesday. “The bottom line is, Mr. Martinez or maybe even some of the other foster kids in the home had pressured or influenced the victims to say nothing had happened to them.”

About the case

A judge threw out much of the sexual abuse case against Martinez in August 2011, dismissing 23 of the 35 felony counts filed by prosecutors.

The judge dismissed most of the sexual abuse counts because the initial accuser testified he made up the allegations.

At the time, Martinez predicted he would be acquitted.

A police detective previously testified Martinez had threatened his accusers, witnesses, people who reported the accusations to police, state Department of Human Services personnel and herself.

Martinez had been free on $80,000 bail but was arrested a second time in April 2011 after authorities found his accuser — one of his adopted sons — in Utah.

Police accused Martinez of buying a bus ticket for the boy, who ran away from DHS custody after Martinez’s first arrest.

Police said Martinez arranged for the boy to stay with someone Martinez knew to avoid testifying.” [So the prosecutors allowed this guy to intimidate them into offering this ridiculous sentence?Yea, that will teach him…first the judge allows an alleged and now acknowledged KIDNAPPER out on bail and contemplated allowing him to FURTHER intimidate witnesses, now this. Is this the Molester Protection Club?]

Former Oklahoma City police sergeant pleads guilty to sexual abuse charges

[The Oklahoman 8/21/12 by Tim Willert]

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