GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The man accused of snatching a 12-year-old Grand Rapids girl from the bus stop with plans to sexually assault her appeared in court Thursday.
Marquis Chino Martinez, 25, was charged and arraigned in 61st District Court on kidnapping and assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree. He is accused of grabbing the victim and attempting to assault her in a secluded area.
This stems from an incident that happened around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Bradford Street NE and Ball Avenue.
The girl, a Grand Rapids Public Schools student, told investigators she was waiting at a bus stop when Martinez approached her, court documents detail.
According to police, Martinez approached the girl, covered her mouth, and forced her to walk to a secluded area.
The victim escaped when Martinez dropped an item and attempted to retrieve it, police said.
This interaction was caught on surveillance video, detectives said in a probable cause affidavit.
During an interview with Grand Rapids Police, Martinez admitted to being in the area and said he had been drinking vodka the previous night. He wrote an apology letter during the interview, court documents show.
A conviction for kidnapping carries a sentence of up to life in prison.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Grand Rapids Public Schools shared a letter with parents earlier this week, asking the community to help take steps to keep children safe.
