Youth Activities Leader Sexually Abused Child In Culver City: Police

CULVER CITY, CA — A former city employee who led youth activities has been arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child, police announced Thursday.

On July 7, police were made aware of allegations against former Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department employee Stephen Martinez, 43, of Los Angeles. He is suspected of committing lewd and lascivious acts on a minor under the age of 14, according to the Culver City Police Department.

He was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Culver City jail.

Martinez had worked for the city as a senior recreation leader for five years until he was terminated from his position "due to an unrelated matter prior to the report of this crime" on June 26.

:PRCS and the Culver City Police Department are actively working to contact parents
and guardians of children who may have come into contact with the suspect through city
programming, both past and present," reads a police statement. "The Culver City Police Department is dedicated to protecting the safety and well-being of our community, especially its youngest members. Investigators are working to identify any potential additional victims."

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Lt. Ryan Thompson at 310-253-6302 or ryan.thompson@culvercity.org.