Former APS deputy superintendent also faces domestic abuse charges

Timothy Jason Martinez hasn’t just been arrested for sexual assault of a child, but also two violent assault charges. Earlier this year, Denver police booked the now former Albuquerque Public Schools deputy superintendent on two assault charges, both involving men. “The allegation is that on Jan. 25 he was involved in altercation with person he […]

Former APS deputy superintendent also faces domestic abuse charges

Timothy Jason Martinez hasn’t just been arrested for sexual assault of a child, but also two violent assault charges.

Mugshot of Jason Martinez.
2013 Mugshot of Jason Martinez.

Earlier this year, Denver police booked the now former Albuquerque Public Schools deputy superintendent on two assault charges, both involving men.

“The allegation is that on Jan. 25 he was involved in altercation with person he had an intimate relationship with,” said Denver District Attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough. 

One of the allegations from the police report says Martinez struck a person with the side mirror of a car.

Police issued a warrant for Martinez on Feb. 3 and arrested him Feb. 19.

Kimbrough said both charges are open and will follow the child sexual assault charges that Martinez will face in trial on Oct. 9.

Martinez abruptly resigned from his position at APS last week. Throughout his two-month tenure, Martinez never completed a required criminal background check.

Martinez also never sought permission from Denver courts to leave the city and work in Albuquerque, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office. That office today filed a motion to revoke Martinez’ bail in both arrests, alleging that he violated terms of his pretrial release conditions.

The motion urges the court to write an arrest warrant for Martinez and an immediate court hearing. The motion also requests Martinez face a larger bail bond and be barred from contact with children under 18.

“To leave the state for several months and to begin a new job that requires daily interaction with children and gamilies is a complete and utter defiance of the letter and spirit of the conditions of bond that the Defendant agreed to on July 18, 2013 and February 20, 2015,” the motion reads.

In each of his arrests, Martinez posted a $50,000 bond.

KOB-TV earlier reported that Martinez was facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge.

The deadly weapon in the case is a car.

The police report describes what appears to be a love triangle. The incident began with Martinez allegedly struck a man with a car mirror and “causing a bruise to his buttocks.” The man was a friend of another man with whom Martinez was in an intimate relationship, according to police.

Martinez also allegedly punched the man he was intimate with because he was “possibly jealous,” according to a police interview with the other alleged victim. The police report states that Martinez also allegedly kicked the man after punching him. Neither suffered serious injuries.

A background check would have presumably found this arrest record, as well as Martinez’s July 2013 arrest on four charges involving sexual assault of a child.

APS Superintendent Luis Valentino, who handpicked Martinez as his second-in-command earlier this summer, is under intense scrutiny following the lack of oversight on Martinez’ previous arrest records.

A Sunday night five-hour closed door emergency school board meeting led to no immediate decision on Valentino’s future with the school district. Another emergency school board meeting is set for Thursday at 7 am.

Earlier today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his office was launching an investigation into the APS “safety breach.”

Updated with details from the police report and motion to revoke Martinez’ bonds.

Read the full police report of Martinez’ violent assault arrest and the Denver DA’s motion to revoke his bond below:

Updated: A DA’s office spokeswoman in Denver previously told New Mexico Political Report there were six charges. The spokeswoman told New Mexico Political Report on Monday that two were dismissed because they were duplicative. The story has been updated to reflect this.

Martinez Assault Charges by New Mexico Political Report

Martinez Motion to Revoke by New Mexico Political Report

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