Former Albuquerque Public Schools bus driver sentenced for cold-case rapes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Ralph Martinez , the former Albuquerque Public Schools bus driver who raped three women decades ago, was sentenced.

More than three decades later, three rape victims are finally seeing justice.

Martinez was an APS bus driver up until last year when he got arrested for a series of rapes from 1988 to 1991.

After 30 years, a forensics team analyzed DNA from the victims, matching it to DNA they pulled from Martinez’s bus.

Bennett said Martinez lived close to three of the women and he broke into their homes to commit the acts.

On Monday in court, two victims testified, saying how their lives were permanently changed. Martinez reportedly held his first, 19-year-old victim at knifepoint in 1988.

The final victim was 18-years-old and raped in her apartment.

Martinez pled guilty to six counts of rape. Judge Emeterio Rodolfo sentenced Martinez to the max: 30 years in prison.

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Police also connected Martinez to a fourth rape, of a 59-year-old woman, but she died before the DNA was tested.

Martinez pleaded guilty to six counts of criminal sexual penetration. On Monday, Judge Emeterio Rudolfo sentenced Martinez to 30 years behind bars.

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