Girl claims sex abuse
Convicted sex offender faces more charges

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — A 54-year-old convicted sex offender was charged Thursday with the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old relative.

Deputy Police Chief John Allen, a spokesman for the Gallup Police Department, said Donald Martinez was initially arrested on an outstanding warrant for a sex offender registry violation in Washington state, but will face additional sex offense charges for allegedly inappropriate interaction with a local girl.

Police officers were called to Roosevelt Elementary, 400 E. Logan, on May 8 after the girl reported to school officials that she’d been sexually abused by Martinez.

The report sparked an investigation by local detectives who conducted a child forensic interview with the victim and began an inquiry into Martinez’s background.

Investigators learned Martinez was convicted in Washington state in 1994 on sex charges for the abuse of a 6-year-old girl. He had yet to register locally as a sex offender with the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department as required by law.

Detective John Yearley and Lt. Rick White conducted an interview with Martinez who allegedly admitted to the recent allegations. Martinez was subsequently arrested on the outstanding warrant from Washington state and was then charged with two second-degree felony counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor in connection with the alleged abuse of the local girl.

If convicted, Martinez could face up to nine years in prison for each count. As of Thursday afternoon, he was in custody at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a $25,000 cash only bond.

Allen said the 10-year-old girl is in the care of the Children, Youth and Families Department.