Estevan Gabriel Martinez-Garcia, a 33-year-old former jiu-jitsu coach from Port Orange, Florida, was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sept. 9, after investigators accused him of grooming and sexually abusing a 16-year-old student, according to local law enforcement and news reports.
Arrest in New Mexico Following Joint Investigation
The Port Orange Police Department began investigating the allegations in July 2026, according to department statements cited by WESH. Detectives determined that the alleged abuse occurred between spring 2025 and spring 2026 at Bully Me Now Mixed Martial Arts in Port Orange. Investigators stated that Martinez-Garcia engaged in grooming behavior, had sexual contact with the minor, and sent sexually explicit images to the teenager.
Following the investigation, authorities tracked Martinez-Garcia to the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area. With assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Support Team, officers located and arrested him on Sept. 9. According to WFTV, Martinez-Garcia confessed to the allegations after being located in New Mexico.
Charges and Extradition Status
Martinez-Garcia faces multiple charges in connection with the case. According to jail records and police details reported by WESH and WFTV, the charges include:
- Sexual battery involving a 16- or 17-year-old victim by an offender at least 24 years old
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
- Harmful explicit communication with a minor
- Written solicitation of a minor
Martinez-Garcia is currently being held without bond in a New Mexico jail. Authorities have not yet established a clear timeline for when he will be extradited back to Volusia County, Florida, to face the charges locally.
Gym Leadership Reaction and Policy Changes
Victor Ezeir, the owner of Bully Me Now Jiu-Jitsu, told reporters that he terminated Martinez-Garcia after learning about the investigation. Ezeir recounted confronting the coach and throwing a suitcase at him before removing him from the facility.
According to WFTV, Ezeir noted that multiple individuals had raised concerns regarding Martinez-Garcia’s interactions with the student over a 10-month period. Ezeir stated that he did not initially contact law enforcement because the 16-year-old denied that anything improper was occurring. The situation shifted after Ezeir received messages from a woman who knew Martinez-Garcia previously, prompting him to reexamine the situation with the teenager.
In the wake of the arrest, Ezeir stated that he will no longer permit another adult man to have the same access inside the building, emphasizing that the victim’s parents wanted the public to understand the realities of grooming and manipulation.