Washington Navy Lieutenant Commander, 61, is arrested for ‘raping 14-year-old boy and paying him $200 for sex’

A lieutenant commander at the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Northwest has been arrested in Washington state on charges of raping and sexually exploiting a 14-year-old boy after paying him for sex.

61-year-old Lucas Martinez, also known as Lucas Martinezmendieta, allegedly visited the home of the underage teen, still dressed in his Navy uniform, after a series of online interactions, according to military news outlet Task & Purpose.

Martinez allegedly paid $200 for sexual intercourse with the minor after meeting him on the hookup site called Sniffies, Anacortes police said.

After the encounter, Martinez allegedly continued to use an official Navy phone line while at work to continue communication with the minor, according to the affidavit. Task & purpose.

Despite initially remaining silent following his arrest at his home in Oak Harbor, Washington on Friday, he later denied the allegations against the outlet, stating, “I have never slept with a minor, let alone rape.”

Martinez is affiliated with Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW) in Oak Harbor, Washington and is part of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The photo shows the basic entrance

The charges against Martinez include third-degree rape of a minor, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor and engaging in immoral communications with a minor.

The investigation was first initiated after the minor’s mother contacted Anacortes police after a series of strange packages were delivered to the family home containing sexually suggestive items, including sex toys and sexy costumes, Task & Purpose reports.

The minor then described how they had posed as 18-year-olds on adult websites and contacted older men who had agreed to send them gifts from their Amazon Wish List.

The teen had a profile that showed he was looking for money. It also contained a nude photo of the lower half of his body, without his face.

Despite these initial warnings, no conclusive evidence of criminal activity was found at the time, the affidavit said.

But things escalated when the teen’s mother told police how Martinez had visited their home and paid her son for sex.

It is claimed the pair met through Sniffies, an app used mainly by gay men for casual encounters late last year.

Their interactions quickly evolved from virtual exchanges to in-person meetings, with the minor occasionally skipping school to meet Martinez while his mother was at work in November and December 2023.

It is claimed the pair met on Sniffies late last year. The app is mainly used by gay men for casual encounters

“It is unknown if Lucas is the only male who has had physical contact with (the boy), but he is the only one who has reported (the boy) to date,” according to an affidavit seen by Task & purpose is reading.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, has led investigators to look into Martinez’s alleged interactions with the minor through dating apps.

His profile on the dating website allegedly shows a photo of him in a white naval uniform, with his name tag visible.

Close-up photos of Martinez’s face while in uniform were also reportedly on the site, details of the affidavit.

The correspondence shows how several meetings took place between the pair, with Martinez making attempts to maintain contact even after being blocked by the minor.

Martinez then allegedly made numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach the boy by phone, leaving him voicemails and even using numbers directly traced to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command where he worked.

Third-degree rape of a minor, under Washington law, involves sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 14 and 16, where the perpetrator is at least 48 months older than the victim.

Despite the seriousness of the charges, Martinez was released Monday and remains attached to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW).

There are concerns he is a potential flight risk due to property ownership in Maryland and recent orders to move there.

Martinez entered active duty in July 1997 and received five Navy Commendation Medals and five Navy Achievement Medals.

To date, there are no pending disciplinary actions within the military justice system.

Naval Air Systems Command spokesperson Marcia Hart said in a statement: “We will not comment on the ongoing investigation. Local police have jurisdiction and we will support them and their investigation in any way we can.”