DPS Special Agents Nab Convicted Child Perv in Online Operation

 

SAN ANGELO, TX –  A Tom Green County Grand Jury indicted 51-year-old Benjamin Martinez, On Oct. 7, 2020, for the charge of Possession of Child Pornography, which has previously been enhanced to a Second Degree Felony due to a prior conviction from 2009.

 Special agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety received a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTip on May 1, 2020,  in reference to the downloading and viewing of several files of child pornography at a residence in San Angelo. 

During the investigation agents identified Benjamin Martinez, a former convicted sex offender,  as their main suspect through the use multiple investigative techniques which positively confirmed his identity.

Following his arrest Martinez was brought in for further questioning where he ultimately admitted to downloading and viewing several images and videos depicting underage nude children. During the interview Martinez gave investigators written consent to conduct a search of his residence for additional evidence; to which (4) cell phones and a laptop computer were recovered. 

Additionally, Martinez granted further consent allowing investigators to search all electronic devices recovered from his residence for malicious content, including his personal cell phone. A forensic analysis was done on all recovered devices at which time several images, including a few graphic videos of nude children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts were found. 

Benjamin Martinez

(Pictured: Suspect Benjamin Martinez)

 Martinez was immediately placed under arrest at the conclusion of the interview with investigators for the possession, and or promotion of child pornography, which is a third degree felony in the state of Texas. Shortly after Martinez was transported to the Tom Green County Jail by special agents where he was booked and released to county jail staff custody. 

At this time Benjamin Martinez is in the Tom Green County Jail where he faces $25,000 in bond for the charge of Possession of Child Pornography, a typical third degree felony, that has previously been enhanced to a second degree felony due to a prior Attempted Indecency with a Child conviction stemming from an incident back in April of 2009. 

Benjamin Martinez was indicted on May 1, 2020, by a Tom Green County Grand Jury for the charge of Possession of Child Pornography enhanced to a Second Degree Felony. Penalties for crimes of these nature could reach up to $10,000 in fines and anywhere from two to twenty years incarceration in a state prison. 

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