A Pleasantville couple is in jail after a year-long investigation found the man was sexually and physically abusing two children while his wife knew.
The boy and girl reported the abuse a week after they were sent to live with a family friend in Florida, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
Christina and Sergio Martinez, ages 39 and 38, are in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on six charges each in the abuse of the children, who were 8 and 11 when the abuse was reported Sept. 16, 2022.
The charges include first-degree aggravated sexual assault. The complaint indicates both children were raped.
The couple removed the boy and girl from school and failed to seek services regarding growth delays, according to the charges.
The redacted report blacks out the children's relationship to the couple in an effort to protect their identities.
It appears a dog bite was what ended up getting the children out of state, and to the woman to whom they disclosed the alleged abuse.
The affidavit states that the Florida caretaker was sent the children because one was bitten by a pit bull, and Christina Martinez was worried the Division of Child Protection and Permanency would get involved.
The then-11-year-old indicated that the abuse began when he was 9 or 10 and continued until the children were sent to Florida.
A Palm Beach Florida Child Protection Team interviewed the children.
The Martinezes were supposed to have detention hearings Wednesday, but they were postponed until Friday. They will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility until then, when a judge will decide whether they will be held or released with conditions.
