While his conviction on all counts last month left essentially no doubt as to how long his sentence would be, Anthony Jose Martinez returned to Coconino County Superior Court for it to be imposed Friday morning. The 28-year-old Martinez was sentenced to prison for the remainder of his natural life for the first-degree murder of his 6-year-old child, who died of starvation in March 2020. Additionally, Martinez was given the presumptive sentence of 17 years in prison for each of his two child abuse and two kidnapping convictions committed against both the 6-year-old child and their 7-year-old sibling -- which are all to be served consecutively to his life sentence.
The final two convictions for aggravated assault carried sentences of 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 years respectively, but will run concurrent to the rest of the counts while also being credited with Martinez’s 1,580 days of time served. Anthony Jose Martinez receives his sentenced Friday morning in Coconino County Superior Court in the March 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son. Friday’s sentencing hearing began with the adoptive mother of the 7-year-old victim and the two other children in Martinez's home detailing the effects of the long-term abuse, as well as the progress made in the past four years.
“I was so nervous, but the moment we locked eyes I saw his face smile and his sweet spirit, and I knew we were both going to be OK,” she said as she detailed the then-7-year-old's arrival to a new home just weeks a.