City council candidate arrested for posting topless revenge porn photos of his estranged wife online says his website was hacked
- David Martinez, 38, was jailed Monday morning on suspicion of placing topless images of his wife on his campaign website this weekend
- The act is a felony or gross misdemeanor under the state's 'Revenge Porn' law
- Denies responsibility for the pictures, saying instead his website was hacked
- Early in July, his wife sought a restraining order against him and filed for divorce
David Martinez, 38, was jailed Monday morning on suspicion of placing topless images of his wife on his campaign website this weekend
A City Council candidate in St. Paul, Minnesota, arrested after a topless photo of his estranged wife was posted on his campaign website says he's the victim of a hacker.
David Martinez tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press he did not post the photo of his wife on the website, which also reported that she had obtained a restraining order against him. Martinez insists his website was hacked.
Police arrested the 38-year-old candidate Monday on suspicion of violating Minnesota's revenge porn law.
The post, which was public for more than 33 hours, featured a topless photo of Martinez's wife as well as a copy of a restraining order she filed against him.
On the restraining order application posted on the blog, Martinez's wife wrote, 'his behavior has continued to escalate over the past 3-4 weeks.'
'David brought home mace and a B.B. gun and said he will use it against anyone who gets in his face.'
Martinez may be charged with a felony or gross misdemeanor under the MN Revenge Porn law
Martinez has denied responsibility for the pictures, saying instead his website was hacked. He is pictured, right, with his wife and children. His wife filed for divorce earlier this month
She went on to write that on July 4th, 'He then put both of his hands around my neck and pushed me backwards into a shelving unit with his hands still gripped around my neck.'
The Ramsey County attorney's office has not yet made a charging decision. Martinez remains jailed as of Tuesday.
Martinez insisted all his accounts were hacked, including his campaign blog and social media accounts, and he couldn't get into any of them.
Monday's arrest is just the latest incident in what appears to be a pattern of escalating and erratic behavior
Martinez had already been banned from the city's libraries following his July 5 arrest at a downtown location after being accused of shouting expletives at two librarians.
Martinez's wife, left, has also filed a restraining order against her estranged husband who claims his behavior in recent weeks has become increasingly erratic
He also banned from Target Field in Minneapolis for a year after a July 6 confrontation with security.
Earlier this month, his wife sought a restraining order against him and filed for divorce.
Mayor Melvin Carter and the Chairman of the St. Paul Republican Party are calling for Martinez to drop out of the race.
'David Martinez's behavior is disturbing and has no place in our city. I wish the best to his family and our entire community as we heal from the harm his acts have caused. He should drop out of the city council race immediately,' Carter said in a statement released this weekend.
Martinez and his wife work on the same floor of the Minnesota Department of Health building. He has been ordered to stay away from her at work.
Several people posted on his campaign's Facebook page asking him to get help and scolding him for his behavior.
'Yikes … not a good look to be posting nudes of your ex,' one person wrote. 'I was on board but am now out. Get some help dude.'
Another person asked him to 'please take down the photo,' saying, 'if not for her, please do it for your children.'
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