People v. Martinez

Opinion

RICHLI, J.

When victim Ruth Michiel ran into financial difficulties, she was afraid that two houses she owned would go into foreclosure. Defendant Paul Stephen Martinez offered to help her; at his direction, she signed a stack of documents. Later, she learned that a trust deed had been recorded against one of the houses, purportedly to secure a $25,000 debt to defendant. Michiel did not deny signing the trust deed but denied doing so knowingly; moreover, the notary whose name appeared on it denied ever notarizing it.

Defendant was found guilty of forgery of the notary’s signature (count…