Idaho woman sentenced to up to 20 years in torture case

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho Falls woman has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison in connection with a kidnapping and torture case.

Sasha Dee Martinez, 34, will be eligible for parole after serving at least five years, 7th District Judge Bruce Pickett said at her sentencing Wednesday, EastIdahoNews.com reported.

Martinez, who earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and a drug charge in exchange for prosecutors dropping kidnapping and battery charges, is one of four co-defendants in the case. Bonneville County Deputy Prosecutor called the case on of the “most egregious” he has seen. Jorge Luis Balderas, 27; Laura Zamudio, 29, and Austin Alverado, 24, have also been charged in the case. All three have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

According to Idaho Falls police reports, officers were called to a home on June 22, 2020 after a woman asked a stranger to call 911, saying she had been held captive and tortured. The victim told investigators she lived with three of her alleged attackers.

In court documents, investigators said the woman was beaten, tied to a chair, burned with propane torches and set on fire with lighter fluid, and that Martinez used a knife to carve an initial into the woman's face.