Houston man convicted of trying to kill two girls after sexually assaulting them

HOUSTON – A Houston man was sentenced to life in prison this week after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two young girls and trying to kill them to silence them.

José Orbin Martinez-Lopez, 46, of Honduras, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 in Harris County, according to District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Court documents state that on September 10, 2020, Martinez-Lopez broke into a southwest Houston home through a small window. Once inside, he attacked two sisters, ages 11 and 12. Authorities say Martinez-Lopez slit one of the girls’ throats with a box cutter. When her sister tried to intervene, he locked the two girls in a room and set the house on fire before leaving.

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Both girls survived the attack and were rescued by first responders. Houston Police Department investigators learned that Martinez-Lopez knew the family and had been at their home on multiple occasions. The girls told family members that the 46-year-old man had sexually assaulted them on multiple occasions before and that he had broken into the home to kill them after they told their family what had happened.

Police say Martinez-Lopez planned to flee to Honduras but was arrested while trying to rebook a flight after missing his first one. He was held on $1 million bail.

At a court hearing in May, Martinez-Lopez pleaded guilty to the charges. At his sentencing hearing Tuesday, both girls testified against him, sharing their traumatic experiences before the judge.

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Martinez-Lopez was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of appeal.

Denise Nichols, chief of the district attorney's crimes against children division, who prosecuted the case alongside trial bureau chief Katlin Robinson, described the case as one of the worst she's dealt with in her 24-year career. “After knowing what these girls have been through, it's just incredible how brave they were. This was their moment to come forward and get justice and move forward.”

Martinez-Lopez will have to serve at least 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole.