A Union County jury has returned guilty verdicts on all charges against a New York man who sexually abused an underage relative on numerous occasions for a period of approximately six years, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Wednesday.
Jose Martinez, 47, was convicted of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact following a three-week trial before state Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh and less than a day of jury deliberation.
Martinez was arrested in June 2015 as the result of a Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit investigation referred there by the Elizabeth Police Department.
The investigation, assisted by SVU Detectives Keyla Live and Janet Lopez, revealed that Martinez sexually abused the victim on numerous occasions at her home, typically while her primary caregivers were working and she was entrusted to his care, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutors Jessica Kahn and Tracy Boyd, who prosecuted the case. The majority of the abuse occurred when the victim was under the age of 13, Kahn and Boyd said.
Authorities became involved when the victim disclosed details about the abuse to a friend. The friend’s mother in turn informed the victim’s school, which then contacted police.
The victim later testified about her abuse at trial.
Sentencing in the case has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2017, at which time Martinez will face a term of up to 30 years in state prison.