A lieutenant commander with the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Northwest was arrested in Washington state on charges of raping and sexually exploiting a 14-year-old boy after paying him for sex.
Lucas Martinez, 61, also known as Lucas Martinezmendieta, allegedly went to the underage teenager’s home, still dressed in his Navy uniform, following a series of online interactions, according to the military media Task & Purpose.
Martinez allegedly paid $200 for sex with the minor after meeting him on the dating site called Sniffies, Anacortes police said.
After the encounter, Martinez allegedly continued to use an official Navy phone line while he was at work in order to continue communication with the minor, according to the affidavit seen by Task and objective.
Although he initially remained silent during his arrest Friday at his home in Oak Harbor, Washington, he later denied the accusations to the outlet, saying, “I have never slept with a minor , even less rape.”
A Navy lieutenant commander, Lucas Martinez, 61, was arrested for paying $200 for sex with a 14-year-old boy he met on a dating site called Sniffies.
Martinez is attached to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW) located in Oak Harbor, Washington and is part of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. In the photo, the entrance to the base
The charges against Martinez include third-degree rape of a minor, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor and immoral communication with a minor.
The investigation was first sparked after the minor’s mother contacted Anacortes police after a series of strange packages were delivered to the family’s home containing sexually suggestive items, including sex toys and sexy costumes, reports Task & Purpose.
The minor then clearly explained how he posed as an 18-year-old on adult websites and communicated with older men who agreed to send gifts from their Amazon wish list.
The teenager had a profile that suggested he was looking for money. It also included a nude photo of the lower half of her body, without her face.
Despite these early warning signs, no conclusive evidence of criminal activity was found at the time, according to the affidavit.
But things escalated when the teen’s mother informed police that Martinez had gone to their home and paid her son for sex.
It is believed the two met on Sniffies, an app primarily used by gay men for casual dating, towards the end of last year.
Their interactions quickly moved from virtual exchanges to in-person dates, with the minor occasionally skipping school to meet with Martinez while his mother was at work in November and December 2023.
It appears the pair met on Sniffies towards the end of last year. The app is primarily used by gay men for casual dating
“It is unknown if Lucas is the only man who has had physical contact with (the boy), however, he is the only one (the boy) has reported thus far,” according to an affidavit viewed by Task and objective bed.
The investigation, which is still ongoing, allowed investigators to examine Martinez’s alleged interactions with the minor through dating apps.
His profile allegedly shows a photo of himself in a white Navy uniform on the dating site, in which his badge is visible.
Close-up photos of Martinez’s face while he was in uniform were also allegedly on the site, the affidavit details.
The correspondence reportedly shows how several encounters took place between the two men, with Martinez striving to maintain contact even after being blocked by the minor.
Martinez then allegedly made numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach the boy by phone, leaving him voicemails and even using numbers that went directly back to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command where he worked.
Under Washington law, third-degree rape of a minor involves having sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 14 and 16, with the perpetrator at least 48 months older than the victim.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Martinez was released on bail Monday and remains attached to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW).
There are concerns that he poses a potential flight risk due to his property in Maryland and recent orders to move there.
Martinez joined active duty in July 1997 and received five Navy Commendation Medals and five Navy Achievement Medals.
So far, no disciplinary action is underway in the military justice system.
Naval Air Systems Command spokeswoman Marcia Hart said in a statement: “We will not comment on the ongoing investigation. Local law enforcement is competent and we will support them and their investigation in any way possible.