Former New Mexico Deputy Sheriff Arrested and Charged with Kidnapping and Sexual Assault

In a shocking turn of events, a former deputy sheriff in New Mexico has been arrested and federally charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman. The accused, identified as Michael Andrew Martinez, 33, was allegedly working in his official capacity with the Do?±a Ana Sheriff's Office when the incident took place.

According to a criminal complaint reviewed by CBS News, the incident occurred on April 30, when Martinez responded to a car crash where a vehicle had collided with a tree. Two women were present at the scene, including the victim, who was driving the vehicle. Martinez detained the woman on charges of driving under the influence and careless driving.

However, the complaint reveals that the victim's breath alcohol test showed a blood alcohol level of only 0.04, which is half the legal limit. Furthermore, a second sample was deemed "insufficient." Despite this, Martinez proceeded to handcuff the woman and place her in his vehicle, claiming that he needed to take her to a local medical center for a medical clearance.

Afterward, the woman was taken to the Do?±a Ana County Detention Center and booked, although the specific charges she faced were not disclosed in the report. Meanwhile, on May 2, Martinez himself called the sheriff's office to report criminal damage to his property. He claimed that his official vehicle had been broken into and his unit's DVR system, along with other technology, had been destroyed or damaged.

Subsequently, the vehicle was brought to the sheriff's office for officials to attempt to recover any evidence of the alleged robbery from the DVR system. However, the investigation revealed that there had been no forced entry into the vehicle. Shockingly, one of the recovered videos from the DVR system showed the victim being sexually assaulted while handcuffed in Martinez's vehicle before they arrived at the detention center.

In addition, the recorded data indicated that Martinez himself had damaged the vehicle and the DVR system. As a result, Martinez was promptly fired from his position. Armida Macmanus, a special agent at the FBI who authored the complaint, stated, "Martinez, while on duty, engaged in prohibited conduct when he kidnapped and sexually assaulted the Victim. Martinez created a threatening and unreasonable situation by placing the Victim inside a secured area within his marked unit... Martinez also corruptly intended to destroy evidence of his sexual assault."

Martinez made his first appearance in federal court on Thursday, and he has been charged with deprivation of rights under color of law and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. The Department of Justice has urged anyone who may have reason to believe they or someone they know may be a victim of Martinez to contact the FBI.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico confirmed the charges against Martinez, describing him as a former Do?±a Ana County sheriff's deputy. The office did not provide details regarding when or how Martinez left the department. A federal public defender has been listed as his representative, but there has been no immediate response for comment. A preliminary hearing for Martinez is scheduled for Tuesday.

As this shocking case unfolds, the Do?±a Ana Sheriff's Office has declined to comment on the matter. However, Sheriff Kim Stewart is expected to hold a news conference on Friday morning. In the meantime, investigators are urging anyone with information or potential victims to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.