Raymond Arriaga Martinez Sr., 46 of Clinton, currently is serving time in the Custer County Jail for assault and battery charges, and, while there, he was charged with attempting to prevent witness from giving testimony, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the Custer County District Court.
Martinez is serving time for allegedly tackling and punching his girlfriend after she had broken up with him the day before. Clinton Police Officer Mario Cedillo observed fresh bruising on the left side of the victim’s face at the time she reported the abuse to CPD March 18, court records show.
Since then, a series of letters and phone calls has earned Martinez the second charge of attempting to prevent a witness from giving testimony, according to court records.
May 15, Custer County Investigator Jeff Stanford was contacted by the Custer County District Attorney’s Office requesting he submit a probable cause affidavit for Martinez allegedly attempting to prevent a witness from testifying. Stanford began investigating the accusation, court records show.
March 19, Martinez called the victim from the original charge of assault and battery. He allegedly told her he loved her and missed her. She told him she couldn’t eat due to her lip hurting from the alleged abuse. Martinez allegedly said he would “ride this out,” but she needed to not press charges and also needed to not show up in court to testify. He allegedly said if she did these things authorities would “cut him loose,” according to court records.
Later during the call, Martinez allegedly said he was going to take this time to clean himself up and the pair would still get married “even though they are cousins.” He then said he was sorry and was going to get the victim’s name tattooed on his body, court records show.
The victim allegedly told Martinez she loves him and promised not to show up in court. The pair discussed briefly a third subject who could potentially testify in court as well. Martinez asked the victim to talk to the third subject and tell her “all the good he has done for her,” according to court records.
A few hours later March 19, Martinez again called the victim and allegedly told her not to show up again because he would not be taking any deals. He allegedly said the victim not showing up in court was his only chance of the state dropping his charges. The victim again agreed to not show up, court records show.
March 30, Martinez called the victim again and allegedly told her if they get ahold of the third subject, they will give him a 4-year sentence. Martinez said he had already been in jail for the same charge once before, according to court records. Court records show Martinez has been charged with domestic assault and battery five times within the last 15 years.
March 31, Martinez called the victim again, at which time the pair got into a verbal argument regarding him allegedly cheating on her. Martinez allegedly expressed he was worried about going to prison, and the victim said it was not her fault he “ran up and tackled her.” Martinez proceeded to allegedly call the victim an idiot for saying this while on the phone because his phone calls are recorded. The call was terminated after Martinez allegedly called the victim dumb, according to court records.
Stanford also reviewed two letters from Martinez, addressed to a fourth subject. Stanford believed the letters were meant for the victim of the assault and battery charges. Upon contact with the fourth subject, it was determined she also believed the letters were meant for the victim, her step-cousin, court records show.
In the letter, Martinez allegedly said what he and the victim have is “the real deal.” He said he was sorry for letting drugs bring out the evil side of him, and told the victim he wasn’t saying these things because he was in jail, but because it is who he really is, according to court records.
Martinez allegedly promised to be sober together with the victim. He said he would pay to have her fallopian tubes untied because, “If we had our own little baby, you would shine even more than you already do,” court records show.
Martinez also allegedly wrote he was sorry for hurting the victim and would never do it again, according to court records.
Martinez has been charged with domestic assault and battery five times — once in 2005, once in 2008, once in 2009, once in 2017, once in 2018 and the most recent time this past March. Three of those incidents were in the presence of a minor, court records show.
Martinez is scheduled to appear in court again July 16, according to court records.