Cause found for concern against Arias prosecutor

An Arizona Supreme Court disciplinary committee has found probable cause to file a complaint against Deputy Maricopa County prosecutor Juan Martinez, who is accused of manipulating women, including at least one juror, to obtain information during the murder trial of Jodi Arias.

A state Supreme Court disciplinary committee has found probable cause to file a complaint against Deputy Maricopa County prosecutor Juan Martinez, who is accused of manipulating women, including at least one juror, to obtain information during the Jodi Arias murder trial.

In an order from the state Supreme Court’s Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee, the court authorized the State Bar counsel to prepare and file the formal complaint with the Maricopa County Disciplinary Clerk.

This is the second time the complaint has been brought up against Martinez. It was originally filed in 2017 by Ralph Adams and Karen Clark, attorneys representing Arias.

The disciplinary order, which was made public late Friday, was based upon some of the allegations raised in the initial bar charge submitted by Jodi Arias’ attorneys.

The complaint alleged that Martinez had relationships with two bloggers during the Arias trials, and engaged or tried to engage the women, with whom he had flirtatious or outright sexual relationships, to get information about jurors or leak confidential case information to him over social media.

One of his alleged lovers, a socialmedia blogger, bragged to at least two others that she helped Martinez dig up negative information about the sole juror who refused to vote for a death sentence. That juror’s name was revealed minutes after a mistrial was declared.

Arizona law prohibits the public release of juror names.

Martinez also is alleged to have flirtatiously communicated with a juror who had been removed from the trial in an attempt to glean information about sitting jurors.

The woman told investigators during a sworn deposition that she had texted photos of her naked breasts to Martinez after he told her he was “a breast man.”

In addition, the Committee found probable cause that Martinez provided false testimony or evidence during the State Bar’s discipline investigation regarding the nature of his relationship and conversations with people surrounding the case.

If the complaint is found to have merit, Martinez could face a range of consequences. The State Bar’s Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee could suggest a range of sanctions, from a reprimand, probation or suspension to a disciplinary hearing that could result in disbarment.

Martinez and his attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.