Bail was denied Monday for a man charged in the 2019 disappearance of Victoria Marquina, a pregnant teenager from Amador County. A plea of not guilty also was entered during the hearing.
Joshua Martinez, 28, is charged with murder, unlawful intercourse with a minor three years younger, oral copulation with a person under 18, and sexual penetration by a foreign object with a person under 18.
During Martinez’s first hearing Monday, defense attorney Allen Sawyer and Deputy District Attorney Elton Grau appeared before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Chrishna Martinez. Both attorneys argued motions related to Martinez’s bail review hearing, which was originally requested by Sawyer.
When the request was made, Sawyer told The Record that his client
is a married father who has "rebuilt his life since these allegations first arose many years ago."
Judge Martinez ultimately denied the motion for release and the motion to release the defendant on his own recognizance.
A minute order for the hearing stated: “Based upon a consideration of the following factors, the Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that no condition short of detention will reasonably address these concerns.”
The minute order also stated, “The Court also finds that “the facts are evident, and the presumption is great” that the defendant committed the charged crime.” Factors cited by the court denying release included public safety, the safety of the victim, the seriousness of the offenses charged, and the probability of the defendant appearing in court.
During a second hearing on the same day before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Gus Barrera, Martinez entered a plea of not guilty.
According to a minute order from the hearing, Martinez pleaded not guilty to murder, unlawful intercourse with a minor three years younger, oral copulation with a person under 18, and sexual penetration by a foreign object with a person under 18.
Court records show a jury trial is scheduled for April 2, 2027.
What allegedly happened to Victoria Marquina?
Marquina’s case was transferred from Amador County to San Joaquin County because it is the area where her vehicle was located.
The teen was last seen alive nearly six years ago on Oct. 9, 2019, near her job in Amador County.
On Oct. 10, 2019, Marquina’s mother, Blanca Valencia, reported her daughter missing in Sutter Creek. Two days later, the girl's car was found abandoned near Escalon in San Joaquin County.
Marquina has not been seen or heard from since the last time her mother saw her. Her body has not been recovered.
Prosecutors said Marquina, 16, and Martinez, who was 21 at the time, had a very short relationship. The two had met a month before her disappearance.
Martinez, who had an address from Livingston, said he saw Marquina and dropped her off in Sutter Creek on the morning of Oct. 6. He said it was the last time he had seen Marquina.
San Joaquin County deputies contacted an eyewitness who provided a description of a car and a young Latino couple matching the description of Marquina and Martinez, including Martinez’s vehicle.
Martinez was previously arrested on suspicion of the murder but was released due to lack of evidence.
He was arrested again on March 12 by U.S. Marshals in Livermore and was indicted in February by a San Joaquin County grand jury.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: No bail for suspect in 2019 Amador County pregnant teen disappearance
