Lt. Cmdr. Lucas Martinez is seen at an event on Oct. 13, 2022, at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Wash. Martinez, who is with the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, was arrested March 13, 2024, and charged with paying for sex with a 14-year-old boy. (U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON – A lieutenant commander with the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Northwest in Washington state was arrested this month on charges he paid for sex with a 14-year-old boy, according to a court document.
Lt. Cmdr. Lucas Martinez was arrested March 13 on charges of third-degree rape of a child, commercial sexual abuse of a minor, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes, according to a court affidavit from local authorities.
Martinez, 61, met the 14-year-old online on an adult sex website and made arrangements to meet in person. The Navy officer later showed up at the boy’s home wearing his green camouflage uniform and paid $200 to have sex with him, police said.
On Jan. 22, the mother of the 14-year-old contacted the Anacortes Police Department after receiving packages at her home that contained sex toys and sex costumes. The boy told his mother that he had been posing as an 18-year-old to communicate with older men on adult websites and the men would send him gifts.
The Fleet Readiness Center Northwest is in Oak Harbor, Wash., and is part of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island where Martinez is based. The center is about 20 miles from Anacortes.
Martinez enlisted in the Navy July 1997 and was commissioned in April 2008. His service awards include five Navy Commendation Medals and five Navy Achievement Medals.
On Feb. 9, the victim’s mother contacted police again and said her son had admitted that a man, identified as Lucas Martinezmendieta, had paid him $200 for sex while she had been at work. It is unclear when the pair first met in person. Messages between Martinez and the boy show they first connected in November on an app called Sniffies, specifically for men seeking other men.
Police said they believe the two met Dec. 12. After texts were sent suggesting they meet that day, Martinez texted the boy that night to say, “It was amazing, baby. Hopefully you can meet up again next week…or later this week [red heart emoji].”
The school district confirmed to police that the teen had been absent from school earlier that day, according to the affidavit.
Following the encounter, the victim began to ignore and block Martinez’s calls and texts. Martinez used different accounts and phones to contact the teen, including a phone number belonging to Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, according to the affidavit. After reviewing messages between the pair and interviewing the child, Martinez was arrested by police at his home in Oak Harbor, Wash.
Martinez told police, “I never slept with a minor, let alone rape.”
Martinez posted bail March 19 and was released from jail, the Whidbey News-Times reported. He is still with the Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, according to his service record.
“There has been no change in his status. The case is still with the local civilian law enforcement,” Marcia Hart, a Naval Air Systems Command spokeswoman, said in a statement.
