A former pastor and deacon at several churches in Hudson County was found guilty Friday of bail jumping after he fled the country and failed to show up to his sentencing for molesting a 13-year-old boy.
According to authorities, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City found Gregorio Martinez guilty of bail jumping shortly before 4:30 p.m.
A judge on Feb. 25, 2015, found Martinez guilty of touching a 13-year-old boy’s genital area and kissing him on the lips inside his mother's vehicle 2012. However, he was allowed to remain free on bail pending sentencing.
The day of sentencing arrived and Martinez was no where to be found according to officials. It was not until 2016, that Martinez, was initially tracked to be Nicaragua but was ultimately arrested in Honduras that same year.
Despite Martinez’s attempts to fight extradition to New Jersey, he was finally sentenced to four years in prison for molesting the 13-year-old boy.
Officials said Martinez faces a sentence of three to five years in prison for bail jumping. Three additional sex crime cases against Martinez remain pending.