Curtis Martin—the 25-year-old man who in September 2010 attacked a Santa Maria Denny’s employee for allegedly “being gay”—has been sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison.
In January, Martin pleaded no contest to attempted murder and admitted to several special allegations, including that he used a deadly weapon, he’s served prison time for another serious felony, and he committed a hate crime based on the victim’s sexual orientation.
In the early morning hours of Sept. 16, 2010, Martin knocked on the window of the Denny’s restaurant on East Main Street, which was temporarily closed for maintenance. Once he was let in, Martin approached one of the employees and asked him if he was gay. When Martin heard what he thought was an affirmative, he attacked the employee, stabbing him in the neck and face.
Martin fled the scene but was soon found and arrested by a Santa Maria Police Department officer. The victim was treated for his wounds at Marian Medical Center and released.
Martin was found competent to stand trial by a jury of his peers last year.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Duffy told the Sun Martin “received the maximum sentence available for his crimes, and [the District Attorney’s Office was] very pleased with the sentence, and so was the victim.”
This article appears in Feb 16-23, 2012.