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EL PASO, Texas | July 2, 2025 — A 57-year-old man from Anthony, Texas, previously convicted of sexually assaulting a child, has been sentenced to life in federal prison plus 10 years for producing, possessing, and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), violating federal sex offender registration laws, and committing new sexual offenses as a registered sex offender.
Mark Martinez, who was convicted in 1991 for the aggravated sexual assault of an eight-year-old child, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in El Paso after pleading guilty in August 2024 to five federal charges.
According to court records, Martinez was distributing CSAM through the Kik messaging platform and was living at an unregistered address, in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). A federal investigation led by the FBI uncovered extensive digital evidence during the execution of a search warrant in August 2022.
Authorities seized multiple electronic devices containing thousands of CSAM images and videos, including explicit photos of a young child taken in Martinez’s home and videos downloaded from WhatsApp. In chat logs retrieved from Telegram, Martinez admitted to sexually abusing a minor. In total, investigators found approximately 2,391 images and 138 videos of CSAM, many involving prepubescent children. An additional 50 images were found on his cellphone.
Martinez fled to Mexico in late 2022 without informing authorities, as required under his registration conditions. He was arrested on March 3, 2023, at the Columbus Port of Entry in New Mexico upon re-entry into the United States. He was indicted by a federal grand jury later that month.
“Placing this child predator behind bars for the rest of his life ensures he will never again harm another child,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the importance of protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”
“Martinez is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on innocent children both physically and online,” said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales. “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Valenzuela and Lori Hughes.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
