The following is a news release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office:
Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Andrea Reeb, announced that today the Honorable Fred Van Soelen sentenced Lorenzo Martinez, age 52, of Clovis, to life in prison.
On October 4, 2018, a Curry County jury found Martinez guilty of First Degree Murder, a capital crime and Criminal Sexual Penetration, a third degree felony.
The homicide occurred on February 13, 2017, when Martinez contacted Clovis Police to report that he stabbed a female victim multiple times and then had sex with her twice after she died. Martinez told police that the female was “annoying” him.
Judge Van Soelen also found that Martinez is a habitual offender, having a prior felony conviction for Battery on a Peace Officer, which enhanced the Criminal Sexual Penetration charge by one year. The Criminal Sexual Penetration count will run concurrently with the life sentence for First Degree Murder. Martinez may be eligible for consideration for parole in 30 years. If released he would have to register as a sex offender for life and serve a term of parole from 5 years to life.
Judge Van Soelen stated, “This is the most horrific and heinous crime I’ve seen. I’ve not seen anyone that is more of a threat to society and see no reason the defendant should ever be released.”
Brian Scott Stover, Chief Deputy District Attorney and Claire Adams, Assistant District Attorney, prosecuted the case for the State. Gary C. Mitchell, Criminal Defense Attorney from Ruidoso, NM, represented Martinez.
For more information, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at 575-769-2246.
(News release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office)
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