Arrest Made in Kidnapping and Rape Case in Orange County
Law enforcement has taken a registered sex offender into custody for the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Orange County, California. This incident reportedly lasted several hours.
Last week, authorities arrested 34-year-old Brian Estuardo Verbena Martinez in Guatemala, thanks to a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and local agencies. Prosecutors assert that on December 5, 2025, Verbena Martinez approached the girl as she walked down the street and offered her a ride.
Investigators noted that he became more aggressive, which led to the girl getting into his vehicle. Over the next few hours, he allegedly assaulted her at various locations, including his apartment in Anaheim and different parking lots, while other children were nearby. Eventually, he dropped her off at a friend’s house in Garden Grove.
Westminster police quickly identified Verbena Martinez as the suspect and coordinated with the FBI and federal agencies to track him in Guatemala. He has been arrested there, and efforts are underway to extradite him back to Orange County to face charges.
Charges against Verbena Martinez include kidnapping for the purpose of a sexual crime, forcible rape, forcible sexual penetration of a child under 14, forcible oral copulation of a child under 14, and three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 14. If found guilty of all these charges, he could face a life sentence. It’s worth noting that Verbena Martinez was already a registered sex offender, having been convicted in Los Angeles County in 2019 for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, remarked, “The crimes alleged against Verbena Martinez are more than horrifying, and the young victims in this case have tragically had to endure.” He also mentioned that this incident marks the third announcement this year regarding fugitives being returned to Orange County from other countries like Mexico, Vietnam, and Guatemala, highlighting the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
