ALAMOSA – More than 15 months after being arrested related to charges of alleged sexual assault of a child under the age of 15 by a person in a position of trust as part of a pattern of sexual abuse, Mari Felix and Martin Felix-Lopez are headed to trial.  

Although Felix and Felix-Lopez are listed as co-defendants, the cases are being tried separately. Felix-Lopez is on the docket first with his trial slated to begin March 10, 2025. Felix’s case trails that of her husband, Felix-Lopez, with her trial starting March 31, 2025, just two weeks later. 

Both trials are scheduled to last four days and will be prosecuted by Wes Stafford, the Assistant District Attorney for the 12th Judicial District.  

The charges are distinctly different in both cases. 

Martin Felix-Lopez has been charged with one count of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust with a victim who is less than 15 years old and as part of a pattern of behavior. According to documents from the Alamosa Combined Court, between January 2019 and December of 2023, Felix-Lopez unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly subjected the victim to sexual contact.  

Typically, sexual assault on a child is fourth-class felony. However, in Colorado, it becomes a class three felony — as well as a violent crime — if the crime is committed as part of a pattern of behavior.   

Because Felix-Lopez is accused of those actions, should he be convicted, the range of penalty is four to twelve years in prison and/or a fine of $3,000-$750,000. Upon release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender. 

Felix has been charged as an accessory to a crime, class 5 felony. According to documents obtained from the Alamosa Combined Court, between May 1, 2023 and December 21, 2023, Felix “unlawfully and feloniously rendered assistance to Martin Felix-Lopez, with intent to hinder, delay or prevent the discovery, detection, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of Martin Felix-Lopez for the commission of a crime, knowing that the person committed the crime of sexual assault of a child by one in a position of trust/pattern.” 

In Colorado, the penalty for class 5 felonies can range from one to three years in prison, fines of $1,000 to $100,000 and two years of parole. 

When asked about the possibility of reaching a resolution in Felix’s case, something her attorney repeatedly mentioned was a possibility in court, Stafford simply told the Valley Courier, “I talk to defense attorneys all the time.”  

It should be noted that, according to District Attorney Anne Kelly, one of the many reasons Stafford was hired as Assistant District Attorney related to his extensive experience in both Miami and Houston prosecuting cases of child abuse, including sexual assault of children. 

Since posting bond in late December and early January, neither Felix nor Felix-Lopez have been detained in the Alamosa Detention Center. 

All individuals are considered innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.