Washington Navy Lieutenant Commander, 61, is arrested for 'raping 14-year-old boy and paying him $200 for sex'

A lieutenant commander with the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Northwest has been arrested in Washington State on charges of raping and sexual exploiting a 14-year-old boy after paying him for sex. 

Lucas Martinez, 61, who is also known as Lucas Martinezmendieta, is alleged to have  visited the underage teenager's home still dressed in his Navy uniform following a series of online interactions, according to military news outlet Task & Purpose.

Martinez allegedly paid $200 for intercourse with the minor after meeting him on the hookup site called Sniffies, the Anacortes Police Department said.

Following the encounter Martinez is alleged to have continued to use an official Navy phone line while at work in order to continue communication with the minor, according to the affidavit seen by Task & Purpose.

Despite initially staying silent upon his arrest at his Oak Harbor, Washington home on Friday, he later denied the accusations to the outlet, stating: 'I never slept with a minor, let alone rape.'

A Navy lieutenant commander, Lucas Martinez, 61,  has been arrested on charges he paid $200 to have sex with a 14-year-old boy he met on a hookup site called Sniffies

Martinez is attached to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW) located in Oak Harbor, Washington and is part of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Pictured, the base entrance

The charges against Martinez encompass third-degree rape of a minor, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, and engaging in immoral communication with a minor.

The investigation was first triggered after minor's mother contacted Anacortes Police after a series of strange packages were delivered to the family home containing sexually suggestive items including sex toys and sexy costumes, reports Task & Purpose.

The minor then came clean as to how they had posed as an 18-year-old on adult websites and engaged in communications with older men who had agreed to send gifts from their Amazon Wishlist. 

The teen had a profile the that suggested he was looking for money. It also included a naked picture of the lower half of his body, without his face.

Despite these initial red flags, no conclusive evidence of criminal activity was found at the time, according to the affidavit. 

But things escalated when the teen's mother informed the police how Martinez had visited their home and paid her son for sex. 

It's alleged the pair met on Sniffies, an app predominantly used by gay men for casual encounters towards the end of last year.

Their interactions soon progressed from virtual exchanges to in-person rendezvous, with the minor occasionally skipping school to meet Martinez while his mom was at work in November and December 2023.

It is alleged the pair met on Sniffies towards the end of last year. The app is predominantly used by gay men for casual encounters

'It is unknown if Lucas is the only male who had physical contact with [the boy], however, he is the only one that [the boy] has thus far reported,' according an affidavit seen by Task & Purpose reads.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, has seen investigators examine Martinez's alleged interactions with the minor through dating apps.

His profile allegedly shows a picture of him in a white Navy uniform on the dating website, in which his name tag is visible. 

Close-up photos of Martinez face while in uniform were also allegedly on the site, the affidavit details.

The correspondence allegedly shows how several meetings occurred between the pair, with Martinez making efforts to maintain contact even after being blocked by the minor.

Martinez is then alleged to have made numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach the boy by phone, leaving him voicemails and even using numbers that were directly traced back to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command where he worked.

Third-degree rape of a minor under Washington law entails engaging in sexual intercourse with an individual aged between 14 and 16, with the perpetrator being at least 48 months older than the victim. 

Despite the seriousness of the charges, Martinez was out on bond on Monday and he remains attached to Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW). 

There are concerns about him being a potential flight risk due to owning property in Maryland and recent orders to relocate there.

Martinez joined active duty in July 1997 and has been awarded five Navy Commendation Medals and five Navy Achievement Medals.

So far, there no pending disciplinary actions pending within in the military justice system.

Naval Air Systems Command spokesperson Marcia Hart said in a statement: 'We will not comment on the on-going investigation. Local law enforcement has jurisdiction, and we will support them and their investigation in any way possible.'