ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police have arrested a taxi cab driver on charges he sexually abused a teenaged passenger.
Jose Martinez, 45, of Roswell, faces sexual battery charges after the teen said Martinez groped her on at least two occasions.
The 13-year-old victim, with permission from her mother, told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik that Martinez was hired to shuttle her and her siblings to school so her mother could go to work.
During one trip, the girl said Martinez made a lewd comment, and then groped her.
“He was like: ‘What do you feel when somebody touches you there?’” she said. “He put his hand where he wasn’t supposed to. I thought what is he doing? That’s not right.”
The girl said she didn’t initially report it and continued to accept rides from Martinez. But, on another trip, she said he grabbed her breasts and she went to a friend, who in turn told her mother, who called police.
“He should get justice, shouldn’t do that again,” she said.
Roswell Police told Petchenik they believe the girl isn’t Martinez’s only victim.
“The detective believes there are more victims out there and that they are in the Hispanic community because it’s a Hispanic taxi service,” said Officer Lisa Holland.
Holland said in the Hispanic community, some victims won’t come forward for fear they will be deported. Holland said the police will help anyone who comes forward with such an allegation.
WSBTV
