Former high school teacher formally charged with 10 felonies

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A former San Luis High School (SLHS) teacher was formally charged Wednesday after being accused of sexually abusing a student who was a minor.

25-year-old Ivan Martinez was formally charged with 10 felonies including:

• Six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor
• One count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation
• One count of aggravated luring a minor for sexual exploitation
• Two counts of attempted sexual contact with a minor

“Detectives from the San Luis Police Department conducted an arrest on January 11th 2024, this was for 25-year-old Ivan Rafael Martinez. He was arrested for several charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. This is a 16-year-old female student at San Luis High School," stated Lt. Emanuel Botello, San Luis Police Department Public Information Officer.

The paperwork we obtained from the Yuma County Justice Court stated Martinez is accused of recording, filming, or taking pictures of the minor engaged in sexual conduct.

“The investigation started in December of 2023. It initially started as a call to the school recourse officer who further investigated. During the investigation, the case was transferred over to detectives from the San Luis Police Department who continued with the follow-up," said Botello.

Court documents show the alleged abuse happened between October and December of 2023

We learned in court that Martinez lives in Mexico and does not have a home in the United States.

One local parent shared his thoughts.

“I think he should be put in jail and if it was my kid, that teacher would not be around for a while," said Ralph Vargas, a local parent.

He wishes the school would have prevented this before it happened.

“The kids, if any of the kids have any concerns going to the principal or teachers. The teachers and principal should be taking more precautions," said Vargas.

The Yuma Union High School District confirmed Martinez is no longer a teacher at the high school and has not been in the classroom since last December.

Martinez is being held on a cash-only bond of $250,000 bond.

He's expected to be back in court next week.