Preacher who molested N.J. boy, fled to Central America, gets 4 years

By Jessica Remo
NJ.com
July 28, 2017

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2017/07/fugitive_preacher_who_molested_nj_boy_gets_4_years.html

JERSEY CITY -- An evangelical preacher who fled to Central America after he was convicted of molesting a 13-year-old boy was finally sentenced on Friday morning after being brought back to the U.S. last year.

Gregorio Martinez, 49, a native of the Dominican Republic, was found guilty in 2015 of molesting the 13-year-old inside the boy's mother's minivan in a North Bergen parking lot on June 10, 2012.

Martinez was out on bail and fled to Nicaragua and Honduras. His flight from justice was chronicled in a special report by NJ Advance Media. He was eventually apprehended and brought back to the U.S. last year, but a scheduling conflict and his change of lawyers delayed his sentencing.

During his trial in 2015, Martinez was also charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man, and after his conviction he was charged with two more sexual assaults of two other 19-year-old men. He was also accused by a parishioner of molesting another boy during his time in Central America.

On Friday morning, Martinez stood in handcuffs and a jail uniform in front of a courtroom filled with about a dozen supporters, most in their 20s and 30s, clad in black t-shirts that read Elohim Church, the North Bergen church where he once preached and was revered as a prophet by parishioners. The church, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God churches, a Pentacostal denomination, is now located in Jersey City.

His new attorney, Daniel Gonzalez, asked Judge Mitzy Menendez-Galins for leniency, saying Martinez maintains his innocence and that even if he did commit the crime, it was only "a moment in time." He also asked that Martinez' new charges not be held against him when considering his sentence.

"All of these young people in the back and others stand staunchly in support of Mr. Martinez," Gonzalez said, motioning to the crowd. "They still maintain belief in his innocence, and they came here on their own free will. ... The presence of these people in the back says all that needs to be said."

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Linda Claude-Oben responded by reading from the victim's statements about the impact of the assault.

"My life has changed dramatically from what happened," she read. "I went from being a kid who was cheerful and playful to angry and depressed. ... I tried to move on, but the problem was I was still angry."

The victim testified against Martinez during the trial.

Claude-Oben went on to attack Gonzalez' statements, saying his implication that the act was "only a moment" makes it seem as though such behavior is acceptable.

"Touching him on his thigh, on his groin, on his penis...this caused severe emotional distress," Claude-Oben said. "That that one moment could be insignificant, and he should get time served, is a joke."

Claude-Oben said the boy's mother had been suspicious of Martinez' contact with her son and asked him why they were so close. She said Martinez told the mother that "the devil came over him."

"There was no devil and no demons," Claude-Oben continued. "The defendant knew exactly what he was doing."

The jury during Martinez' 2015 trial convicted him of the charges - child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated criminal sexual contact -- after just 30 minutes of deliberation.

When it was his turn to speak, Martinez, through a Spanish interpreter, said he was innocent and that he had a number of supporters present who could defend him. He claimed he had several attorneys who did not do their jobs to give him an appropriate defense.

"I'm looking for a light of hope, some help," Martinez said. "If it is possible, I ask for you to allow me to fight one more time."

Menendez-Galins responded by saying he had a fair trial, which she presided over with great care.

"You took advantage of your position of trust," Menendez-Galins said. "You broke the trust and belief of a child. I don't even know how a court remedies that. A child should never be afraid of his pastor."

Menendez-Galins sentenced Martinez to the state's recommendation of four years in prison, minus the time he already served (351 days). 

Supporters shook their heads and one wept loudly as Martinez was sentenced. They waved to him as he was taken out of the courtroom by sheriff's officers.

Martinez' lawyer said because he would be eligible for parole after nine months on the four-year sentence and since he has already served almost a year, he should be eligible for parole now.

However, Martinez is being detained on the three new sex assault charges and the charge of bail jumping, Gonzalez said.

The judge also set a date of Sept. 19 for a hearing in Martinez' trial on the first of the three new sexual assault charges.

Outside the courthouse, Martinez' supporters said the man they know would never have committed such a crime, but they declined to speculate as to why he faces more accusations.

Alexa Perichi, 30, of Bayonne said she has known Martinez for years.

"He's a very loving man, a man of God," Perichi said. "He would not do anything he was accused of. There's males here, there's females here, and we all trust him. There were a lot of things that weren't brought up in court, a lot of proof that wasn't brought up as well. He is innocent. That's all I can say. It's not true."