Tempe police arrest California man accused of sexually exploiting 13-year-old girl

Daniel Martinez, 23, was arrested in November and is accused of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old Tempe girl after meeting her online.

BY JEFF VINTON

Dec 4, 2025, 2:32 PM Updated: Dec 5, 2025, 12:14 pm

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PHOENIX — A California man has been arrested after allegedly sexually exploiting a 13-year-old girl in Tempe, authorities announced Thursday.

Daniel Martinez, 23, was booked into jail on three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Tempe Police Department.

Daniel Martinez, 23, is accused of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old Tempe girl. (Photo: MCSO)

Martinez is being held on a $250,000 bond.

How did California man allegedly sexually exploit Tempe teen?

Tempe police began investigating the case in August after the girl’s parents found explicit messages and pictures on her phone.

The department later discovered that Martinez and the girl had met on Discord, an online instant messaging and social platform, when she was 12 and began a romantic relationship.

The pair allegedly shared hundreds of nude pictures and videos between January and September of this year, police said.

Additionally, Martinez allegedly traveled to Arizona from his home in Pomona, California, east of Los Angeles, at least three times to have sex with the girl, the department added.

After obtaining an arrest warrant, Tempe police, with the assistance of the Riverside County District Attorney’s child exploitation investigation team, arrested Martinez in California and extradited him to Arizona.

“Protecting children and holding offenders accountable is one of our highest priorities,” Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy said in a press release. “This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations, collaboration across jurisdictions and swift action to prevent further harm.”

The investigation into this case is ongoing.