Ex-Deputy Sheriff Faces Potential Life Sentence for Sexual Assault and Kidnapping

Former Doña Ana County Deputy Sheriff Michael Andrew Martinez has been arrested by federal prosecutors on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an unnamed victim. The crimes allegedly occurred in April 2023 while Martinez was working for the sheriff's office. He also faces federal civil rights and obstruction of justice charges for attempting to destroy evidence. Martinez was fired in August after a video allegedly recovered from the patrol car's DVR showed him sexually assaulting the handcuffed woman. Prosecutors are investigating the possibility of other victims, and anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI.