'Why Me?' Acquitted Of Sex Abuse, Man Sues After Years In Jail: Report

HESPERIA, CA — A Hesperia man is suing a San Bernardino County prosecutor after spending nearly five years in jail for a crime he was acquitted of a year ago, The Press-Enterprise reported.

Pedro Martinez, a 55-year-old former janitor at Maple Elementary School in Hesperia, was accused of child molestation, yet three of his four alleged victims denied he abused them. And no forensic evidence linked Martinez to the crimes or proved the alleged victims were sexually abused, the newspaper reported.

Martinez was charged with 11 felony counts of child sexual abuse, including sexual intercourse/sodomy with a child age 10 or younger, oral copulation and sending harmful matter, such as pornography, to a minor for seduction — despite evidence supporting his innocence. By December of last year, Martinez had been acquitted of all counts, according to the newspaper.

The allegations were reportedly brought forth by a friend of the mother of one of the alleged victims. She had told authorities that the boy explained in detail how Martinez had abused him. Martinez says these were "fantastical claims" of an admitted opioid addict who had a history of making similar claims about others.

“Just countless, sleepless nights asking myself, ‘Why me? Why is this happening to me? I would never hurt a fly,’" Martinez told the newspaper.

Read more from The Press-Enterprise: Wrongfully Accused Hesperia school janitor who spent 5 Years in jail sues San Bernardino County.