ARIZONA NEWS

Former Arizona man sentenced to prison for producing child pornography

Sep 1, 2023, 8:00 PM

judge taps gavel sentences man accused of producing child pornography law judge criminal case...

Michael Martinez, 28, sexually exploited minors when he lived in Phoenix, authorities said. (Pexels Photo)

(Pexels Photo)

PHOENIX — A man from Texas was sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing child pornography when he lived in Phoenix, authorities said.

Michael Martinez of Texas, 28, was living in a Phoenix home in January 2016 with a mother and her 7-year-old child, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said.

Prosecutors said that during Martinez’s time as the mother’s roommate, he took sexually explicit photos and videos of her child, officials said.

Later in 2016, he moved into another residence, where he was a roommate for a woman with two children, aged 5 and 3.

Although the mother trusted him to babysit her children, Martinez took sexually explicit pictures and videos of both of them, prosecutors said.

Authorities: He targeted mothers so he could keep producing child pornography

In 2017, he moved to Texas after sexually abusing the three children, officials said. He even admitted to “engaging in sex acts” with the three young children, prosecutors said.

Gary Restaino, the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, said the pain and harm Martinez inflicted upon the children is “irreparable.”

“The court’s sentence sends a strong message of deterrence to those who seek to hurt children,” he said in a statement.

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Myron Byrd hoped this sentencing would bring justice to the victims.

“Children deserve to feel and be safe in their homes,” he said in a statement. “Today’s sentencing should bring some closure to the families knowing this predator will be in federal prison for a very long time.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

no motor vehicles sign near arizona border...

KTAR.com

Arizona’s Sinema says Lukeville Port of Entry closure ‘unacceptable,’ unsure when it will reopen

The Lukeville Port of Entry has been closed for five days with no end in sight, a situation Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says is "unacceptable."

1 hour ago

(Photo provided by Evolve Public Relations and Marketing.)...

KTAR.com

Google Fiber internet service is slated for Queen Creek in early 2025

Queen Creek is set to become the third community in Arizona to get Google Fiber - a high-speed internet service provided by Google.

1 hour ago

No freeway closures are scheduled in metro Phoenix the rest of the year. (ADOT Photo)...

KTAR.com

No weekend closures scheduled on metro Phoenix freeways through end of year

State transportation officials have no scheduled closures on metro Phoenix freeways through the end of the year.

1 hour ago

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall....

KTAR.com

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall to retire after 10 years on the job

After 10 years on the job, Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall is planning to retire in January.

2 hours ago

Pamela Andrews...

KTAR.com

Silver Alert issued for 68-year-old woman last seen in Mesa

The Mesa Police Department has asked the public for help as it attempts to locate a woman who has been missing for three days.

9 hours ago

...

Sponsored Content by Collins Comfort

Avoid a potential emergency and get your home’s heating and furnace safety checked

With the weather getting colder throughout the Valley, the best time to make sure your heating is all up to date is now. 

Sponsored Articles

Follow @KTAR923...

Valley residents should be mindful of plumbing ahead of holidays

With Halloween in the rear-view and more holidays coming up, Day & Night recommends that Valley residents prepare accordingly.

Follow @KTAR923...

The 2023 Diamondbacks are a good example to count on the underdog

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the World Series as a surprise. That they made the playoffs at all, got past the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card round, swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and won two road games in Philadelphia to close out a full seven-game NLCS went against every expectation. Now, […]

...

Desert Institute for Spine Care

Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) wants to help Valley residents address back, neck issues through awake spine surgery

As the weather begins to change, those with back issues can no longer rely on the dry heat to aid their backs. That's where DISC comes in.

Former Arizona man sentenced to prison for producing child pornography