Francisco Martinez
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Francisco Martinez, 33, of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, was sentenced in accordance with the terms of a plea agreement, on August 27, 2025 by the Honorable Sohail Mohammed P.J.Cr. to a term of fifteen (15) years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% to be served before parole eligibility. Martinez pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter pursuant to a plea agreement on May 20, 2025.
Francisco Martinez’s plea allocution detailed that on July 5, 2021, during an altercation that took place outside his parents’ home at 455 Totowa Avenue, he stabbed Johnny Jimenez in the chest. The defendant Francisco Martinez admitted that he stabbed Johnny Jimenez, resulting in his death under circumstances evincing an extreme indifference to human life.
The co-defendant, Jose Martinez was tried starting on March 18th, 2025. On April 16th, 2025, following approximately one day of jury deliberations, the Jury returned verdicts of guilty for Murder, Conspiracy to commit Murder, Aggravated Assault-Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. The co-defendant was sentenced to two concurrent terms of thirty (30) years in New Jersey State Prison.
Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Ali Y. Ozbek and Senior Assistant Prosecutor in Charge Evan Mongiardo represented the State in this matter, and the defense was represented by Gregory Ian Liberty.