2023-09-25
Possible Upcoming Murder Trial Could Be Costly To Taxpayers
During a recent Ochiltree County Commissioners Court meeting, Ochiltree County Judge Charles Kelly noted that the county will incur “significant expenses” for a possible upcoming trial.
The Perryton Herald reported that Judge Kelly was discussing the potential murder trial of Humberto Martinez.
Back in late 2022, after originally being arrested and charged with arson, Martinez was then also indicted on a capital murder charge on September 30.
The case centers around a house fire in July of 2022 that led to the eventual discovery of 4-year-old Hope Raley, who was deceased.
Law enforcement said that at about 9:53 am on Wednesday, July 20, both the Perryton Police and Perryton Fire Department responded to a fire at 802 S. Drake. Upon arrival, witnesses reported to emergency personnel that they believed that a young girl was inside the burning dwelling. Fire and police made entry into the residence and found a young girl in a bed in the residence. The fire seemed to have started on the bed and the young girl was found to be deceased. The fire was then extinguished. During the search of the house for any other signs of fire, Martinez was found to be in the residence and found to be possibly suffering from smoke inhalation. He was transported to Ochiltree General Hospital and subsequently transferred to Lubbock.
Because it was an unattended death, the girl’s body was transferred to Lubbock for an autopsy. Assistance was requested from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Texas Rangers due to the circumstances surrounding the fire and death of Raley.
Martinez was arrested in Lubbock County for 2nd degree felony arson and later brought back to Perryton.
According to Perryton Police Chief Nick Yara, on September 30, at 12:15 p.m. the Perryton Police Department served a warrant on Martinez for Capital Murder of a Person Under 10 Years of Age. Bond on the Capital Murder warrant was set at $5 million, and Martinez has been in the Ochiltree County Jail since July 22.
Judge Kelly said the upcoming trial could cost taxpayers up to $1 million.