New Mexico Babysitter Gets Prison for Child Sex - Updated

(Las Cruces, New Mexico) Twenty-six-year-old babysitter, Annette Martinez, pleaded no contest to 20 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor.

As a result, Martinez was sentenced to nine years in prison (six suspended) by 3rd Judicial District Judge Stephen Bridgforth. The judge also gave Martinez credit for seven months already locked up.

Martinez addressed Bridgforth, apologizing for the crimes.

"There is no excuse for what I've done; I want to take responsibility and ask for another chance," she said.

But Heather Chavez, senior trial attorney for the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's office, said Martinez didn't seem to be remorseful during a psychological evaluation. Chavez acknowledged Martinez had a difficult past in which she suffered abuse, but said Martinez also showed, through certain actions in committing the crimes, that she was aware her behavior was wrong.

Judge Bridgforth was quite lenient in his sentencing of Martinez. The DA's office and the victim's family wanted the maximum -- 30 years in prison. Instead, she gets two years and five months.

For an inexact comparison, Judge Bridgforth sentenced a man, 44-year-old Craig Pieri, to 90 years in prison for sexually abusing a 9-year-old female relative. Disregarding the specifics of each case, one might contend that Judge Bridgforth considers male sex offenders more worthy of harsh punishment than female sex offenders.



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Babysitter Accused of Sex with Boy, 14
[Previous 7/29/08 post]
(Las Cruces, New Mexico) A 25-year-old babysitter, Annette Martinez, was arrested this morning for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Martinez has been charged with one count of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, a fourth-degree felony.

Detectives learned Martinez had been baby-sitting the victim and his two siblings since June 1. The woman allegedly told detective she engaged in sexual relations with the boy since July 8 and may now be pregnant.

More charges against Martinez are pending, police said.

Martinez was booked into custody at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $5,000.