Child Molester Martinez Gets 77 Months for Illegal Return

LONDON, Ky. – Rafael Martinez, 41, a Mexican national with a dark past, will spend the next six years and five months behind bars. U.S. District Judge Robert Wier handed down a 77-month federal sentence on Wednesday for Martinez’s illegal reentry into the United States – a clear disregard for the law after he was previously deported following a horrific crime.

Martinez’s troubles began long before his latest arrest. Records show he was initially ordered removed to Mexico on August 30, 2004, after serving time for child molestation in Grant County, Indiana. He wasn’t just here illegally at the time of that conviction; he’d already proven a danger to vulnerable children. Despite the deportation order, Martinez brazenly returned, setting the stage for this latest legal battle.

The situation came to a head on September 14, 2018, when Martinez was picked up by Laurel County, Kentucky authorities on new state charges. It quickly became clear this wasn’t a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was identified as a previously deported alien who hadn’t bothered to seek legal permission to re-enter the country. This wasn’t an oversight; it was a deliberate act of defiance.

Martinez was convicted on those Kentucky charges, and Judge Wier ordered his 77-month federal sentence to run consecutively to the state sentence, meaning he’ll serve both punishments one after the other. This isn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a substantial penalty designed to send a message to others who think they can flout immigration laws and hide from their past.

Federal law dictates that Martinez will be required to serve 85 percent of his federal prison sentence, ensuring a lengthy period of incarceration. The investigation was spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO), with Assistant U.S. Attorney Parman handling the prosecution. The joint announcement of the sentence came from U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV, for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and LaDeon Francis, Director of ICE-ERO’s Chicago Field Office.

This case underscores the relentless efforts of federal agencies to track down and prosecute those who attempt to evade justice and re-enter the country illegally, particularly individuals with violent and predatory histories. The message is clear: if you are deported, attempting to return will have serious consequences, and a past conviction for a heinous crime will only amplify the punishment.