Doña Ana County Sheriff gives background on former deputy charged with sexually assaulting woman while on duty

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart on Friday held a new conference to address the allegations of sexual assault against former deputy, Michael Andrew Martinez. He is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman in April 2023, while working for the sheriffs office.

Sheriff Stewart said Martinez came from the village of Hatch, and prior to that, worked for state police.

He went through training with the sheriffs department, known as field officer training. It's a three-phased program during which he was with another officer all the time, and had direct oversight.

Sheriff Stewart said on April 30, Martinez was no longer in that program, and could patrol on his own.

She said Martinez made an arrest of a woman referred to in the criminal complaint as Jane Doe. He believed she was driving while under the influence.

About 2 days following the arrest, Sheriff Stewart said Martinez called while he was off duty, to report that his unit had been burglarized. He said there was no sign of forced entry, but that his body camera, which he had left in the vehicle was missing. And his car camera was severely damaged.

Sheriff Stewart said believing there was something suspicious about the report, there were efforts made to recover the video from the dash camera.

She said once she viewed the video, "it was all all we needed to begin the process to terminate this individual," said Stewart.

Martinez is now being investigated by the sheriff's department, the U.S. Attorney, and the FBI.

If you or anyone you know came into contact with Martinez and was possibly violated, you are asked to contact the FBI.