Honk News (Allen Parish, LA) – A Missouri judge handed down a sentence of nine life terms to 53-year-old Edward Martinez on Thursday. A jury in September found Martinez guilty on multiple counts, including offenses related to child molestation, statutory rape, and statutory sodomy.
He typically encountered the young kids via friends or partners. For a span of 25 years, he manipulated and exploited at least six young girls, all of whom were under the age of 12.
In a recent statement, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson revealed that the abuse took place over a span from 1996 to 2021. The eldest victim was just 12 years old. The least experienced: 4. Prosecutors labeled him a “repeated offender against children.”
“The evidence showed that Martinez was a manipulative predator who groomed the girls and their families with gifts and financial support in order to have access to the young girls,” the press release stated.
Martinez asserted that the girls were fabricating their accounts, suggesting they were aware of his previous acquittal on similar allegations from the 1990s. However, this jury was not convinced by his narrative.
Also Read – Missouri Teacher Arrested after He Kissed 17-year-old Student and gave Her Alcohol: Authorities
The jury reached a verdict in only two hours. Following an additional 30 minutes of discussion, they advised the nine life sentences that the judge is set to deliver on Thursday.
The victims experienced a feeling of vindication following the ruling. Martinez, a family acquaintance, committed an act of molestation against Leanna Bremenkamp’s daughter.
“I looked him in the eye in court and told him that to his face when I was on the stand. I said I told you we would get you,” she told Springfield NBC affiliate KYTV. “I said it might take a while but I wouldn’t rest until it happened. And that’s what we did.”
Trending at Honk News – Teacher Slept with Several Students and Paid Victims Cash, Marijuana and Alcohol to Keep their Mouth Shut about Her Actions in Missouri
According to Republic Police Det. James Stephenson, the investigation revealed that Martinez had a history of abusing multiple girls over an extended duration.
“Thirty-seven years ago was the first victim,” he said. “When you think about that, 37 years of, a life of, essentially what the evidence proved was geared towards victimizing the young and disabled.”