Father pleads no contest in daughter selling

The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2009 - 5:44 am

SALINAS, Calif. -- A Greenfield father (illegal immigrant) accused of selling his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, beer and meat has pleaded no contest to felony child endangerment.

Marcelino de Jesus Martinez had pleaded not guilty in February to procuring a child for lewd acts, aiding and abetting statutory rape and child endangerment. If convicted, he faced 10 years in prison.

Monday's plea means the 36-year-old father will be sentenced May 7 to up to a year in jail followed by deportation.

Prosecutors say Martinez and the family of Margarito de Jesus Galindo negotiated a marriage and dowry contract. Galindo and the girl allegedly lived together for week.

Martinez went to police to get his daughter back because payment wasn't made.

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1761320.html