A man who worked as a before and after-school care provider and occasional substitute teacher in Jefferson County Schools was arrested by Arvada Police and charged with sexual assault and child abuse.
Justin Joshua Martinez, 31, has been charged with felony sexual assault on a child, two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and felony sexual assault against a victim under the age of 15.
Martinez was arrested by Arvada Police on May 1 and is now awaiting formal charges at the Jefferson County Jail. APD spokesperson Dave Snelling said the department received the initial complaint in the case on April 22.
Since 2011, Martinez was employed at Lawrence Elementary, Swanson Elementary, Secrest Elementary and West Woods Elementary in Arvada; Vivian Elementary in Lakewood and Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge. He most recently worked in the before and after school program at Red Rocks Elementary in Morrison.
A spokesperson for Jefferson County Public Schools said Martinez was hired by Red Rocks Elementary on Feb. 12 and was placed on administrative leave “immediately after the district was notified regarding a criminal investigation.
“The process to terminate his employment with Jeffco Public Schools is in progress,” the spokesperson said.
The before and after-school programs Martinez previously worked for were operated by Kids Adventures and STARS Kid Care.
A Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check showed no prior offenses committed by Martinez before his May 1 arrest. Arvada Police said the investigation is ongoing and declined to give further comment or details about the case.