Repeat offender sentenced to life in prison after trying to rape three women in Westminster

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 11WF3019

Date: June 6, 2016

FLORIDA INMATE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS CONSECUTIVE TO TWO LIFE SENTENCES IN PRISON FOR ASSAULTING, KIDNAPPING, AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING THREE WOMEN NEAR WESTMINSTER PARK

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Florida inmate was sentenced today to two life sentences to be served consecutively to 10 years and eight months in state prison for assaulting, kidnapping, and sexually assaulting three women near a park in Westminster. Arnold Eduardo Martinez, 35, Blackwater Correctional Facility, Florida, was found guilty by a jury on May 4, 2016, of one felony count of attempted kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, three felony counts of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, two felony counts of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury, and one felony count of false personation. Sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury and great bodily injury to a sexual assault victim were found to be true.

In the early morning hours of July 18, 2008, Martinez drove a sedan near Sigler Park in Westminster and parked near Jane Doe 1, who was seated on a park bench. The defendant then got out of the vehicle and sat near Jane Doe 1. Martinez engaged in a brief conversation with Jane Doe 1. After Jane Doe 1 began to walk away from the bench, Martinez walked up behind Jane Doe 1 and put his hand over the victim’s mouth before forcing her toward his vehicle with the intent of sexually assaulting her. Martinez fled the scene after Jane Doe 1 screamed and attempted to get away from the defendant.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on July 24, 2008, Martinez parked his vehicle near Sigler Park where Jane Doe 2 was walking. Martinez approached Jane Doe 2, grabbed the victim, and attempted to drag her toward his vehicle. The defendant dragged Jane Doe 2 into some bushes with the intent of sexually assaulting her. Martinez then punched Jane Doe 2 multiple times when she attempted to escape before fleeing the scene in his vehicle. Jane Doe 2 suffered bruises, swelling, and abrasions.

At approximately 4:55 a.m. on Jan. 14, 2009, Martinez drove behind Jane Doe 3 as she was walking to church near Sigler Park. The defendant exited the vehicle and forced Jane Doe 3 into the passenger seat. Martinez chased after Jane Doe 3 after she escaped from the vehicle and dragged her into nearby bushes nearby. The defendant punched Jane Doe 3 and hit the victim’s head against the ground when she screamed and attempted to resist. Martinez fled the scene after attempting to sexually assault Jane Doe 3. Jane Doe 3 suffered bruises, swelling, and a cut to her head.

The defendant left California after the assault of Jane Doe 3.

Shortly after the assault, Jane Doe 3 reported the crime to the Westminster Police Department (WPD), who investigated this case. WPD released a facial composite sketch based on Jane Doe 3’s description, but the case went cold.

On July 20, 2011, Martinez pleaded guilty to one felony count each of kidnapping and sexual battery in Duval County Florida under a false name and date of birth and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in state prison. As a condition of Martinez’s sentence, he was required to submit a DNA sample to the national DNA database, Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

After the submission, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received a CODIS DNA hit in September 2011, linking Martinez to the unsolved assaults in Orange County. Martinez used a false name and date of birth while living in Florida. Martinez was subsequently confirmed as the source of the DNA from the attack on Jane Doe 3 and he was extradited to Orange County in February 2016.

Deputy District Attorney Lexie Elliott of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted this case.