Serial Child Molester Sentenced To 197 Years By Napa County Judge

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A serial child molester was sentenced Friday by a Napa County judge to 197 years to life in California state prison for sexually abusing three young family members and a family friend.

Flemin Fernando Martinez, 36, was found guilty April 20 of 12 counts of lewd acts upon a child, two counts of oral copulation with a child 10 or younger, one count of forcible rape of a child over 14, one count of using a minor for sex acts, and one count of possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct after a six-day jury trial.

During the sentencing Friday, Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker also awarded $715,000 in noneconomic damages to the victims and their families.

The convictions were the result of sexual contact Martinez had with three family members and one friend between 2011 and 2019 in Napa County. The molestations took place between 2011 and 2019 in Napa County and when the victims between 7 and 16 years old, prosecutors said.

Three of the survivors and their families attended the sentencing, and all four survivors addressed the court with impact statements either personally or through letters read aloud in court.

"I shouldn't have felt embarrassed or ashamed or guilty about what you did, that's how you should feel, not me," one of the survivors said. "I'm ready to let go of all of this. I'm ready to heal and grow and I'll be doing that with the people that love me."

The molestations came to light when one of the victims told a close friend who then reported it to a family member who worked as a school official.

When the Napa Police Department was notified of the allegations, an investigation was launched.

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• Serial Child Molester Convicted By Napa County Jurors: DA
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