EspañolChurch Volunteer Jose Martinez (Full Name: Jose Cruz Martinez), Renee Johnson Arrested For Allegedly Physically, Sexually Abusing Children In Riverside
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (January 18, 2024) – Two people identified as Jose Martinez and Renee Johnson have been arrested following allegations that they sexually abused children in Riverside.
Riverside County officials are saying that the arrests occurred following an investigation into abuse that took place 10 years ago. The victims of the abuse were only identified as a boy and a girl.
Prior to being arrested, Jose Martinez worked as a youth volunteer at a church in Riverside. He has since been charged with multiple accounts of physical and sexual abuse of a minor.
His wife Renee Johnson was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting the physical and sexual abuse of a minor. Both are currently being held on a $2 million bail at a Riverside County jail.
Police are searching for other potential victims of Jose Martinez and Renee Johnson. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Riverside County Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse within churches and other places of worship is sadly far more common than many people may realize. According to CNN, “The Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse. The archdiocese cites a California law that suspended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse between January 2020 and December 2022, opening a three-year window where victims had until age 40 or five years from the time their abuse was discovered to file civil actions against their alleged abusers.” There are many factors that can contribute to instances of sexual abuse within religious institutions.
- Abuse is more likely to take place when children and adults are not being properly monitored.
- Abuse is more likely to take place when allegations of misconduct are not properly investigated.
- Abuse is more likely to take place when church employees and volunteers are not screened.
Religious institutions have a legal obligation to protect children from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. If, for example, a church knew about a priest or religious leader who had a history of sexually abusing children, this could create a duty of care to protect vulnerable children from the abuse. Consider the case of Doe v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles. This duty to protect children includes all instances when children are participating in religious school or church sponsored programs. It is important that certain steps are taken after any instance of church sexual abuse.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A police report of the incident should be created.
- A church sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful and destructive things that a child can go through. It can affect them at all stages of their development. Any person that was sexually abused by a church member or volunteer may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A new law passed by the California legislature has opened up the statute of limitations on these types of cases. A clergy sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Riverside County Church Sexual Abuse
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the children who may have been harmed by the actions of Jose Martinez and Renee Johnson. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all of the victims.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused at a Riverside County church? You may have legal recourse. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights an that their abusers are held accountable. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a free, confidential consultation about your particular situation we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
