CI Man Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing Child For 6 Years: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Central Islip man pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, for repeated acts of sexual abuse with a child beginning when they were 10 years old, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

Elmer Martinez, 44, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual conduct against a child before County Court Judge, the Honorable Judge Karen M. Wilutis, a release said.

In the fall of 2014, when the child was 10 years old, Martinez began touching their intimate parts, according to the investigation and admissions during his guilty plea.

As time went on, Martinez’s conduct escalated to acts of sexual intercourse. He threatened the child in an attempt to prevent her from disclosing the abuse, prosecutors said.

Martinez continued exploiting and abusing the child until March 2020. A few months later, the victim reported the abuse to police despite the fear she felt as a result of Martinez’s threats, prosecutors said.

“Innocent children should never once have to experience the pain and trauma of sexual abuse, let alone for years,” said Tierney. “This child’s bravery in coming forward gave my prosecutors the ability to bring this defendant to justice. Thankfully, as a result of this guilty plea, this child will not have to be subject to trial and cross-examination.”

He is due back in court on May 5, when he will be sentenced up to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, officials said.

Christopher Gioe, Martinez's attorney, told Patch that his client will use the time to better himself.

"Mr. Martinez acknowledged his wrongdoing. He accepted a sentence of 10 years incarceration," said Gioe. "He was not intending on putting the victim through a trial or the family through any further pain. And he accepted the disposition and intends to rehabilitate himself while in custody."