You are reading

Juvenile Offender Pleads Guilty To Murder, Faces 14 Years To Life

gavel3

Dec. 21, 2015 Staff Report

He was 15 years old when he strangled a woman to death in Astoria. Nearly seven years later, at the age of 22, Corona resident Jose Martinez now faces 14 years to life in prison for his crime.

Martinez pleaded guilty Friday to killing 23-year-old Carmen Saldana on July 12, 2009, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.

Martinez, who was riding his bicycle that day, encountered the woman on the street and started talking to her.

He followed her home and once inside the Astoria apartment she shared with her mother, the two argued and a physical altercation ensued.

Martinez then wrapped his hands around the victim’s neck and choked her to death.

“This was a brutal murder – made all the more horrible because the defendant was just 15 at the time. A young woman’s life was senselessly cut short and the defendant, now an adult, will face a lengthy term behind bars when sentenced next month,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Martinez was apprehended as a result of a DNA hit following a 2012 conviction for attacking a cab driver at LaGuardia Airport. That sample was matched to DNA found at the crime scene.

After this DNA hit, investigators were concerned that Martinez was misrepresenting his age for a lighter, juvenile sentence, according to published reports from the time. However, the Queens DA’s office said Monday that Martinez had been able to produce legal documents proving his birth date as Sept. 24, 1993.

Martinez will be sentenced on Jan. 27. Judge Gregory Lasak has indicated that he will sentence Martinez to 14 years to life in prison as a juvenile offender, according to Brown.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Mets to host playoff watch parties at Citi Field

Oct. 3, 2024 By Ethan Marshall

As the New York Mets look to clinch a trip to the National League Division Series Wednesday night in Milwaukee, the team announced that beginning as early as Thursday, Oct. 3, Citi Field will be hosting watch parties of select away games during the playoffs.