A 48-year-old Azusa man was charged Friday after allegedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl he knew and threatening her family if she called for help or told anyone what happened, police said.
Victor Carnio Martinez was charged with six felony counts and his arraignment was postponed Friday to Oct. 27 in Pomona Superior Court, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities were notified of the allegations against Victor Carnio Martinez on Wednesday evening. When police “lured” him to a shopping center, he made statements that “confirmed his involvement,” according to a news release from the Azusa Police Department.
While going to get food with the girl, Martinez allegedly drove her behind a local shopping center on Wednesday and then sexually abused her inside his vehicle while she pleaded with him to stop.
He threatened to harm her and her family if she called out for help or reported the incident to anyone, police said. After nearly an hour, Martinez returned the girl to her mother and allegedly threatened her again, according to police.
The girl told her mother about the incident two days later, and she was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Police were notified, and they learned that the girl had previously been molested by Martinez, according to the DA’s office.
Martinez, who police said was known to the girl’s family, was then lured by investigators to a shopping center Wednesday.
“During the initial contact, statements were made by Martinez that confirmed his involvement in this incident,” the police news release stated.
Martinez was identified by the girl and her mother as well. He was arrested about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and was being held on $1.2 million bail.
According to the DA’s office, he was charged with: sexual intercourse or sodomy with child 10 years old or younger; sodomy by use of force with the victim under age 14; sexual penetration by foreign object; sodomy of person under 14 with 10 years difference; dissuading a witness from reporting a crime; and lewd act upon a child.
Investigators asked anyone who may be a victim of Martinez, or anyone with information regarding the case, to call the Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-812-3200.
Martinez faced up to 37 years in state prison if convicted as charged.
