Jose Martinez
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Jose Martinez, 36, of Paterson, NJ was found guilty on April 16, 2025 after a jury trial before the Honorable Sohail Mohammed P.J.Cr. of two counts of First Degree Murder, in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:11-3(a)(1), Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6 and 2C:11-3, Third Degree Aggravated Assault-Bodily Injury with a Deadly weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(2), Third Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, and Fourth Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d.
Jury selection commenced on March 18th, 2025. On April 16th, 2025, following approximately one day of jury deliberations, the Jury returned verdicts of guilty for Murder, Conspiracy to commit Murder, Aggravated Assault-Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The State presented evidence, that on July 5, 2021, the defendant Jose Martinez and his co-defendant Francisco Martinez stabbed Jamie Hernandez and Johnny Jimenez to death and stabbed Jeremiah Rivera in an altercation that took place outside the defendant’s home. The State presented the Body Worn Camera footage on the initial responding officer as well as testimony from law enforcement and eyewitnesses. Additionally, the State presented expert testimony from the medical examiner as well as a serologist and DNA analyst from the State Police Lab.
Sentencing will be held on June 5, 2025 before the Honorable Sohail Mohammed, P.J.Cr.
The sentencing exposure for Murder is thirty years to life in State prison. Conspiracy to Commit Murder has a sentencing range between ten and twenty years in State prison. Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Resulting in Bodily Injury and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose have a sentencing range of three to five years in State prison. Unlawful Possession of a Weapon has a sentencing range of up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison.
Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Ali Y. Ozbek and Senior Assistant Prosecutor in Charge Evan Mongiardo represented the State during the jury trial before Judge Mohammed, and the defense was represented by Gregory Aprile Esq.