A federal grand jury has indicted a former Culver City government employee on charges related to the production and possession of child pornography involving a 7-year-old girl enrolled in an after-school program.
Stephen Michael Martinez, 44, from Los Angeles' Sawtelle neighborhood, faces two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He had been employed as an after-school care worker with the Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department from June 2020 until June 2025.
According to the indictment and court documents, law enforcement was notified on July 14 that Martinez allegedly coerced a young girl under his care at the Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program into producing sexually explicit photos. Police arrested Martinez on July 16 for suspicion of lewd acts with a minor. He was later transferred to federal custody and is currently being held without bond. His arraignment is set for August 29 in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
“An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
If found guilty on all charges, Martinez could face between 15 and 30 years in federal prison.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Culver City Police Department. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher M. Mills from the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section and Kelsey A. Stimson from the Major Crimes Section.
