(Greenfield, California) A 36-year-old local man, Marcelino de Jesus Martinez, was arrested Monday for selling his 14-year-old daughter into a marriage with an 18-year-old man. In return for his daughter, Martinez was to receive 160 cases of beer, 100 cases of soda, 50 cases of Gatorade, two cases of wine, six cases of meat and $16,000 in cash.
The prospective bridegroom, Margarito de Jesus Galindo, of Gonzales, California, had the young girl move in with him. Reportedly, she went willingly.
However, Galindo wasn't sufficiently willing with his agreed upon payments to the girl's father. As a result, Martinez called the cops, saying he wanted his daughter back. The 14-year-old was reported as a runaway juvenile and a missing-persons report was filed.
Further investigation by the police revealed the arranged marriage scheme, a traditional practice in Mexico where Martinez and Galindo hail. Subsequently, Martinez was arrested on felony charges of causing a person to cohabitate for money and Galindo was arrested for statutory rape. Martinez was still in jail yesterday. Galindo was released.
Offhand, I trust that the players in this soap opera are likely not American citizens who have taken an oath to follow the laws of the United States. On the other hand, it would seem that a truly diverse and tolerant America would accept the cultural eccentricities of Martinez and Galindo.
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