A 30-year-old Durango man who works for the Colorado Department of Corrections was arrested Thursday on charges of online child solicitation.
Zerik Martin was arrested at his Durango home on a warrant from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico. The Durango Police Department is also investigating Martin.
On Monday, officers with the New Mexico Crimes Against Children task force were conducting an online child-solicitation investigation when Martin contacted them, said Lt. Kyle Lincoln with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
As part of the ruse, Martin believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl, Lincoln said.
As the online conversation continued, Martin asked the “girl” to send him nude pictures of herself. After the deputies refused, Martin sent a photo of his private parts, Lincoln said.
“During the conversation, Zerik said that he was already having an inappropriate relationship with another 14-year-old girl,” the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release. “Since an implication of a live victim was present, deputies discontinued the contact with Zerik and informed detectives of the Durango Police Department of the investigation.”
The DPD assisted with the arrest and executed a search warrant at Martin’s home on West Second Avenue, said Lt. Ray Shupe with the department.
“We did locate some materials, and there will be local charges of possession of child pornography,” he said. “The investigation is continuing in other jurisdictions in Colorado as well, all regarding crimes with minors.”
After detectives from both law enforcement agencies made contact with Martin, he confessed to inappropriately soliciting the 14-year-old girl, Lincoln said.
Martin works at Hilltop House, a halfway house, in Durango in his role with the Department of Corrections, Shupe said.
Martin has worked there for about a year and a half, but Shupe didn’t know what his position was.
The warrant is for two counts of child solicitation by electronic communication device, a felony in New Mexico, punishable by up to 36 months in prison, Lincoln said.
Martin was being held Friday night at the La Plata County jail on $1 million bail awaiting extradition to New Mexico.
“We’re not going to hold up the extradition because they have the more serious crimes in New Mexico,” Shupe said
Both agencies are looking to see if there are any other victims.
Anyone who feels they have been victimized by Zerik Martin may call the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico at (505) 334-7744. People who live in Colorado can call the Durango Police Department at 375-4530.
abutler@durangoherald.com
