RivCo Church Volunteer And Wife Suspected Of Child Sex Abuse: Police

RIVERSIDE, CA — A husband and wife with ties to a prominent Riverside church were arrested in Riverside a decade after police learned of multiple counts of child sexual and physical abuse, according to Sgt. Ryan Railsback of the Riverside Police Department.

47-year-old Jose Cruz Martinez was arrested on Friday, January 5th, with assistance from the Riverside Police METRO Team, according to Riverside Police spokesperson Ryan Railsback. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on pending charges of sexual and physical abuse violations of a minor under the age of 10.

The second suspect is Jose Martinez’s wife, 48-year-old Dawn Renee Johnson. She was arrested by SACA Detectives on Wednesday, January 10th, then later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center awaiting charges on multiple counts of aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of a minor and physical abuse.

They are both being held in lieu of $2 million dollars bail, according to Railsback.

"Over the past few months, Riverside Police Detectives assigned to the Sexual Assault – Child Abuse Unit have been investigating allegations of sexual and physical abuse of two minors, male and female, that occurred 10 years ago," Railsback said.

The victims were family members of the couple, he told Patch. Still, due to Martinez's youth volunteer work at the Harvest Christian Church in Riverside between 2016 and September 2023, the church contacted any family that may have had contact with him during that time as additional victims were sought.

"The victims in this case are not associated with Harvest Christian Church, and there were no reports of abuse occurring at the church," he said. "Due to the nature of these crimes, detectives believe there may be other victims who have not yet come forward."

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation and the arrests is urged to contact Detective C. Wilcox at (951) 353-7133 or CWilcox@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective V. Mutuku at (951) 353-7945 or VMutuku@RiversideCA.gov.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can email RPDTips@RiversideCA.gov.