In May of this year, 22-year-old Luciano Martinez pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. Martinez, an illegal immigrant, will likely be deported after he was convicted of the charges in a Cass County court.
The charges were filed after it was revealed that Martinez was having sex with a 14-year-old girl. The defendant resided in Eau Claire, at 9070 Cushing Road. He was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge on July 13th to a minimum of 40 months in the Michigan Department of Corrections, although it is not certain whether he will serve out the sentence before being deported, according to Prosecutor Victor Fitz.
Martinez was accused of aggressively pursuing a relationship with the 14-year-old girl against the wishes of her mother. According to Fitz, Martinez provided the girl with a cell phone so that she could call him. Immigration authorities may decide to deport the defendant to Mexico; the judge said that Martinez’ felony conviction subjects him to deportation, as he is in the U.S. illegally.
Dale Blunier, attorney for Martinez, said that prior to meeting the girl, the defendant had never had a girlfriend, and that he is essentially a “22-year-old man in a teenager’s body.” Blunier described Martinez as immature.
While Martinez was sentenced to 40 months inside guidelines of 36 to 60 months, he has been credited with 95 days served of that sentence.
Michigan criminal sexual conduct attorneys know that a conviction for this type of offense can have a negative impact on the convicted individual’s life forever. Those in the U.S. are required to register on a frequent basis. Anyone who is listed as a sex offender will have problems throughout their life regarding employment, housing, having the right to own a gun and more.
The reality of the situation is that while Martinez was convicted of a sex offense, it is highly likely that the 14-year-old consented to the relationship. It is an unfortunate truth that many times, those accused of crimes such as this are involved with young girls who invite the relationship.
If you have been arrested for any offense which is sex-related, contact an aggressive Michigan sex crime defense attorney right away. Without skilled legal representation, your future and reputation are at stake.