Port Orange police announced that former jiu‑jitsu coach Estevan Gabriel Martinez‑Garcia, 33, was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 9. Detectives say the coach allegedly groomed and sexually abused a 16‑year‑old student over a period that began in the spring of 2025 and continued into the spring of 2026.
Charges and alleged conduct
Martinez‑Garcia faces multiple felony counts, including sexual battery involving a victim who was 16 or 17 years old, unlawful use of a two‑way communications device, harmful explicit communication with a minor, and written solicitation of a minor. Prosecutors allege he sent sexual images to the teenager and engaged in repeated manipulation.
Response from the academy
Victor Ezeir, owner of Bully Me Now Jiu‑Jitsu, said he terminated Martinez‑Garcia immediately after learning of the investigation. “I fired him. I threw him out of every part of my life, and I literally threw a suitcase at him,” Ezeir told reporters. He added that the teen’s parents wanted the academy to stress that grooming and manipulation are real dangers.
“She was just being manipulated for that course of time, that this was OK, that the communication, whatever was going on, was OK, and it was not,” Ezeir said, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Law enforcement actions
After Martinez‑Garcia left Florida, he relocated to New Mexico. With assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Support Team, authorities located and arrested him on September 9. He is being held without bond in a New Mexico jail pending extradition to Volusia County, though officials have not set a timeline for his transfer.
Impact on the local martial‑arts community
Ezeir said the arrest has reshaped his hiring practices. “I will never allow another man in my building again,” he declared, adding that the academy will no longer employ outsiders for instructional roles.
Despite the tragedy, Ezeir remains focused on the academy’s mission to serve children. “We’ve saved hundreds of kids from the darkest of moments, and we have built hundreds and hundreds and thousands of friendships all across the county and the world,” he said.
Next steps
The case will proceed through the Volusia County court system once extradition is completed. Community leaders have urged parents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior promptly.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
