Summary: A transgender woman in Wyoming sexually assaulted a young girl inside a bathroom.
A transgender woman in Wyoming has been arrested and convicted of sexually abusing a friend’s daughter in a bathroom. Michelle Martinez, formerly known as Miguel Martinez before identifying as a woman, was found guilty by a 12-person jury of first-degree and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Martinez could be sentenced to up to 70 years in prison.
Martinez, 27, lured a 10-year-girl into the bathroom of a private residence on March 23. Once inside the bathroom, Martinez touched her breasts and genitalia. He then penetrated the young girl.
The girl immediately told her mother about the incident who then reported it to the Casper Police. The girl told the police that “it hurt inside” so she was taken for an exam at the local hospital. The nurses at the Wyoming Medical Center performed a sexual assault exam on the girl, finding redness and abrasions around her genitalia.
The police went to question Martinez about what happened with the young girl. Martinez turned “noticeably hostile and defensive.” He claimed the young girl was “talking crap” and denied molesting the child.
During the trial, a video of the girl discussing the assault and rape to a forensic interviewer from the Children’s Advocacy Project was played. In the video, she tells the interviewer that Martinez should be locked up.
Martinez went on to claim the allegations were just a “publicity stunt.” He was drunk the night of the rape with breathalyzer tests showing a blood alcohol concentration of .218, roughly three times the legal limit to drive.
He had pleaded not guilty to both charges in May during an arraignment hearing before the Natrona County District Court. His sentencing will come at a later date.
Should this case be treated any differently than any other child molestation case? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
To learn more about transgender bathroom laws, read these articles:
- Transgender Student Wins School Bathroom Battle
- ACLU Sues North Carolina Over Transgender Bathroom Law
- Obama Warns All Schools to Not Enforce Anti-Transgender Bathroom Law
Photo: foxnews.com