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The May term of Decatur County Superior Court for 2021 convened on May 12, 2021. Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Bankston prosecuted Enrique Martinez whose trial began Tuesday, May 11th• With the assistance of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and the Oak House, evidence showed that on or about the 6th day of February, 2019 in Decatur County Mr. Martinez raped a female child forcibly and against her will. The defendant was also found guilty of aggravated child molestation and sodomy by committing an immoral and indecent act to a child under the age of 16, with intent to arouse and satisfy the sexual desires of himself by having sexual intercourse with the child. Martinez was found guilty at trial by Judge Kevin Chason and sentenced to life, with possibility of parole on the rape conviction, life with 25 years to be served in the state prison on the aggravated child molestation conviction and 20 years with 5 years to be served in the state prison system and balance on probation concurrent with the Rape sentence on the child molestation conviction. At sentencing, the Defendant asked for forgiveness and said “I am a bad man.”

Bankston commended the children who testified for their bravery, as well as the Investigators, deputies and experts who put this case together. He stated that “this sentence was justified but cannot compare to the lifelong agony pressed upon the victims of this pedophile.”