SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A former San Luis High School (SLHS) teacher was formally charged Wednesday with sexual abuse of an underage student.
Ivan Martinez, 25, was formally charged with 10 felonies, including:
- Six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor
- one count of enticing a minor for sexual exploitation;
- one count of aggravated enticement of a minor for sexual exploitation;
- 2 counts of attempted sexual contact with a minor
“Detectives with the San Luis Police Department arrested 25-year-old Ivan Rafael Martinez on January 11, 2024. He was arrested on multiple charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. She is a 16-year-old female high school student,” said Lt. Emmanuel Botero, San Luis police spokesman.
Documents we obtained from Yuma County Justice Court state that Martinez is accused of recording, filming or photographing sexual acts with a minor.
“The investigation began in December 2023. It initially began with a call to school relief personnel, who investigated further. During the investigation, the case was turned over to detectives from the San Luis Police Department. A follow-up investigation continued,” Botero said.
According to court documents, the alleged abuse occurred between October and December 2023.
We learned in court that Martinez lives in Mexico and does not have a home in the United States.
One local parent shared his thoughts.
“I think he should go to jail. If that was my child, that teacher would be gone for a while,” said local parent Ralph Vargas.
He says he wishes the school had stopped something like this before it happened.
“Kids, if you have any concerns, please talk to your principal or teacher. Teachers and principals should take additional precautions,” Vargas said.
The Yuma Union High School District confirmed that Martinez is no longer a teacher at the high school and has not been in the classroom since last December.
Martinez is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
He is scheduled to return to court next week.
