Efrain. A. Martinez of the Bronx was charged with first degree, manufacturing child pornography, third-degree possession of child pornography and third degree, endangering the welfare of a child, according to law enforcement officials.
Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson stated on January 21, 2017, Franklin Township Police received a report that an eight-year-old child was engaging in sexually explicit communications via a website with Martinez. According to law enforcement officials, an investigation revealed defendant Martinez had directed the child to send nude photos of herself and to send the images through an instant message application.
“Be aware of the smartphone apps and online sites that your child uses or frequents, and get to know the individuals and friends with whom they are communicating,” Robertson said in a press release.“If your child wants to share digital photos with their friends or classmates via email or a social networking site be sure to know exactly where the images are being stored and who will be receiving the images.”
According to Robertson, on February 10, 2017, at approximately 06:00 a.m., detectives from the New York City Police Department and the Bronx District Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at defendant Martinez’s Sampson Avenue residence. Detectives assigned to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Franklin Township Police Department were also present during the execution of the search warrant.
Law officials say, Martinez’s smartphone was seized and he was arrested without incident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
All charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the NYPD‘s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1–800–577–TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1–888–57–PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers‘ website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All tips will be kept strictly confidential.
