Anthony Martin Jr., a former Rikers Island correctional officer, is set to be dismissed from his position following a sexual abuse conviction. According to Gothamist, the case followed initial allegations made by multiple women detained at Rikers. Martin Jr. was convicted of sexually abusing a 20-year-old woman at his Queens residence in March 2024; prosecutors stated that the woman, an aspiring actress and dancer, had been brought there under the pretense of a television show casting.
Martin Jr. now faces up to seven years in prison following his conviction, and the case has prompted scrutiny of the Department of Correction’s (DOC) response to earlier allegations. Attorney Anna Kull, who represents several women including Karina Collado in a civil lawsuit against Martin Jr., urged the DOC to examine its policies after she filed the suit in May 2023. The lawsuit alleges that Martin Jr. sexually assaulted Collado while she was in custody the year before. Martin Jr. remained employed at Rikers and was not suspended until after his arrest. Collado reported the alleged assault when she was transferred to another facility, but her claims were not thoroughly reviewed at the time.
DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said the agency does not tolerate conduct that violates the responsibilities of the office. The department is processing Martin Jr.’s termination following the guilty verdict, describing the action as part of its effort to address sexual abuse within the corrections system.
Martin Jr. was convicted of sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment following a legal proceeding, reported by the Queens Eagle, which detailed a non-consensual encounter where he inserted his fingers into the woman's vagina. The woman reportedly struggled before escaping and reporting the assault. Martin Jr. was acquitted of two counts of rape due to conflicting testimonies. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz acknowledged the woman's bravery for testifying against her attacker.
Several civil lawsuits parallel the timeline of the criminal case and similarly accuse Martin Jr. of committing sexual offenses on Rikers Island. The allegations date back to 2018 and include claims from individuals such as Simone Morgan, who reports repeated inappropriate contact, and Jessica Brenner, who reached a federal settlement shortly before Martin Jr.’s criminal trial. A Queens Eagle report states that the DOC has not commented on whether it has initiated or will continue internal investigations into Martin Jr.’s alleged misconduct while litigation remains ongoing.
