OKC Sgt. Arraigned Monday In Sex Abuse Case

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma County judge denied bail to an Oklahoma City police sergeant who is charged with 36 felonies and one misdemeanor after being accusedof sexual abuse of several children.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Sgt. Maurice Martinez faced a judge Monday. At times, witnesses said, Martinez tried to lighten the mood.

Martinez has been under investigation since January, when six of his adopted children were taken into state custody. He was arrested and a search warrant executed on their home.

Prosecutors said Martinez abused four teenage boys he was supposed to be taking care of, and according to a probable cause affidavit, Martinez was abusing children as young as 12.

According to court documents, Martinez allowed his adopted children to physically abuse each other and never notified the Department of Human Services.

Since the investigation and Martinez's first arrest in January, police said he was accused of intimidating witnesses from cooperating with police, conspired with a teenager to break into his home and steal evidence before police could seize it, and gave $400 to a victim to send him on a bus to Utah to obstruct the investigation.

Martinez is charged with 32 counts of sexual abuse of a child, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of child abuse, among other charges.

Martinez has been in jail since April 15.

Prosecutors said Martinez asked the judge for some sympathy.

"Is there any way sir ... I got elderly parents and I got a bunch of stuff that I got to do. Can you set a bond, please?" Martinez said.

But court officials said the bond was denied.

Iven Bond, Martinez's lawyer, said he will be filing a bond request Tuesday.