Laguna Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Abuse Offense

ALBUQUERQUE—Earlier today, Raymond Joseph Martin, 62, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, pled guilty to abusive sexual contact before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. Specifically, Martin pled guilty to count one of a three-count indictment charging him with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a female child who had not attained the age of 12 by touching her genitalia. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Martin will receive a sentence of 97 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a minimum five-year term of supervised release. Martin also will be required to register as a sex offender. Martin was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service after he entered his guilty plea.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, on February 12, 2010, the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department initiated an investigation into allegations that Martin had sexually abused his 10-year-old granddaughter within the boundaries of the Pueblo of Laguna, and referred the investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on February 23, 2010. The complaint alleges that, during a safe-house interview on March 4, 2010, the granddaughter disclosed that Martin had touched her genitals on numerous occasions. During an interview with special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on April 2, 2010, Martin admitted touching his granddaughter’s genitals, both directly and through her clothing, on several occasions when the child was 8 to 10 years old.

In his plea agreement, Martin admitted that, between December 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008, he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a minor child who had not attained the age of 12. Martin further admitted to touching the child’s genitals directly, and not through her clothing, and that he did so to arouse and gratify his own sexual desire.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shana B. Pennington.