SAN ANGELO - A local woman, identified as Amy Brown, took to social media platform Facebook to expose her alleged attacker and seek out other victims of sexual assault allegedly perpetrated by Clifton Barry Martin back in September of 2019. Her post quickly gained traction, being shared several hundred times, ultimately leading to dozens of women coming forward with similar experiences.
Amy’s heartfelt plea for justice struck a chord with the community, prompting numerous women who had either been assaulted, narrowly escaped assault, harassed, or threatened by Martin to step forward. The overwhelming response prompted five of these brave survivors to unite and meet at the Rape Crisis Center on November 1, 2019, to share their stories with detectives from the San Angelo Police Department's (SAPD) Sex Crimes Division. Their hope was that formal complaints and detailed statements would ultimately result in the formal charges being brought against Martin.
However, the victims' pursuit of justice faced a significant setback when their cases were assigned to the District Attorney's office but stalled, due to insufficient evidence. Despite each woman providing statements and offering in-depth accounts of their assaults, and tips including information suggesting that Martin may possess child pornography on his phone, progress still came to a halt.
Fast-forward to November 2022, justice finally caught up with Martin as he was apprehended and charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child and nine counts of possession of child pornography. The arrest was the culmination efforts by law enforcement at the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department who diligently gathered evidence and built a substantial case against the perpetrator.
Upon hearing the news of Martin's arrest and the charges he now faces, a renewed sense of hope and determination has engulfed the women who have been advocating for justice for themselves, and the women whom where too afraid to come forward with them back in 2019. They firmly believe that had charges brought against him in November 2019, Martin likely would not have had the opportunity to harm others. The sexual assault of young teenage girl, could have been prevented all together, had the DA taken the steps necessary to remove the dangerous predator from the community when the first outcry was made.
The survivors, along with their supporters, are now calling for a thorough investigation and a swift prosecution process and demand that additional charges are brought against him for each allegation previously ignored. They want to ensure that Martin faces the full extent of the law for the pain and suffering he inflicted upon them and others. Their collective resolve is fueled by a strong desire to protect future potential victims and prevent any further harm.
Amy’s initial act of courage in speaking out and seeking justice has undoubtedly set in motion a chain of events that might aide in a conviction for Barry Martin, and she hopes to be called as a witness against him by the State of Texas, so he finally has to account for his heinous actions. His victims deserve justice and closure. “We have to stand united and cone together as a community, to ensure the safety of the women and children in our community, it could have just as easily happened to anyone, we are all someone’s daughter, sister, or loved one”.
As the legal proceedings unfold the women and their supporters remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, hoping that their bravery will not only result in Martin's conviction but also serve as a catalyst for change in how sexual assault cases are handled in this County in the future. Community members can show support of these survivors by rallying behind them with the shared belief that justice must prevail in in pursuit of a safer, stronger San Angelo.
Below are several links regarding Martin's crimes.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: