Brewster man in country illegally charged with sexually abusing 2 girls

By TERENCE CORCORAN
THE JOURNAL NEWS


(Original publication: August 17, 2007)

BREWSTER - A 32-year-old Brewster man who police say is in the country illegally from Guatemala faces felony charges after sexually abusing two girls, ages 10 and 11, police said today.


Sergio Antonio Martinez-Garza is being held today at the Putnam County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.


However, even if he does post bond, he can't be released because federal immigration officials put a detainer warrant on him, ordering the jail to hold him pending possible deportation proceedings, police said.


Martinez-Garza, of 550 N. Main St., touched the girls' private parts at a residence in Brewster, police said.


Sheriff's investigators arrested him Sunday, charging him with two counts of second-degree engaging in the course of sexual conduct against a child, police said. The sheriff's department announced the arrest today.


Martinez-Garza was arraigned Sunday before Village Justice Richard O'Rourke and is due back in court on Sept. 10.


That is the same date that two other village men in the country illegally are due to appear in Village Court to answer statutory rape charges. Police allege that Pedro Sagastume, 21, and Jeremias Perez, 22, had sex with two girls, 13 and 15, in the men's apartment at 167 Main St. The two men have been held on $50,000 bail since their July 15 arrests.


Police said the girls allegedly victimized by Martinez-Garza were not physically injured and were referred to Child Protective Services. Martinez-Garza and the girls knew each other and, police said, the crimes were not random acts.


After the arrest, sheriff's investigators identified Martinez-Garza as Guatemalan allegedly in the country illegally and notified federal immigration officials and the Guatemalan consulate that he is being held at the Putnam jail, police said.






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