Former Monroe police officer charged with sex crimes

EVERETT — In the months since Carlos Martinez became the subject of a Washington State Patrol investigation alleging he groomed an underage girl for a sexual relationship and secretly videotaped their encounters, the former Monroe police sergeant reportedly has lied to government officials to get information about the young woman.

Last month, the state suspended Martinez’s license to practice as a private investigator after allegations surfaced that he attempted “to locate and harass a witness so as to discourage the witness from providing evidence in a legal action,” according to court papers.

Martinez is targeting the young woman he also is accused of molesting, starting a decade ago, according to prosecutors.

They allege that since April, Martinez has attempted to get information from the National Park Service about the woman’s whereabouts and her relationships with instructors.

Now 24, she is pursuing a career as a park ranger. Martinez reportedly told the officials with the Park Service that she was having an affair with one of her instructors. His allegations caused the Park Service to launch an internal investigation centered on her, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Lisa Paul wrote in charging papers filed in Superior Court.

The deputy prosecutor Friday charged Martinez, 58, with numerous sex crimes, including child rape, molestation and voyeurism related to allegations nearly a decade old.

Martinez is accused of instigating a sexual relationship in 2003, when the girl was 14.

He was the drug education officer for the girl’s fourth- and fifth-grade classes in Monroe. Prosecutors allege that he groomed the girl, taking advantage of her sheltered upbringing and lack of friends outside of her church. The girl’s parents trusted Martinez and allowed their daughter to babysit for his family, Paul wrote in a nine-page affidavit.

Martinez allegedly showered the shy girl with attention and later engaged in sex with her at his home while his wife was out of town. She told investigators the pair would sometimes have sex while Martinez was on duty. He also reportedly rented motel rooms for them when the girl lived in eastern Washington.

Martinez left the police department in 2009 because he was about to be fired after being accused of assaulting his former wife. That same year, Martinez separated from his wife and he moved to Texas with the girl he’d been molesting for six years, prosecutors allege.

She went to police in Texas in 2011.

The Washington State Patrol began investigating Martinez in March 2012 after it was contacted by an FBI task force based in San Antonio, Texas. Martinez had been arrested there on suspicion of possessing child pornography involving the same girl, but charges were never filed.

State Patrol detectives interviewed Martinez in October. He insisted he didn’t have sex with the girl until she was 18.

Police Chief Tim Quenzer has said the department was unaware of the allegations involving the girl until the State Patrol investigation began last year.

There is evidence that the girl tried to tell school officials and a state social worker about the abuse. At 15, the girl told a school counselor that Martinez’s wife had accused her of having an affair. The girl told the counselor that the police officer had been calling her. The counselor told the girl that was inappropriate. The counselor reported that she intended to follow up with the girl and her mother, but the family moved out of the district.

The counselor shared her concerns with a state social worker. The CPS worker allegedly was in a romantic relationship with Martinez, according to State Patrol reports.

Martinez is expected to be arraigned on the felony charges next month.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.