Mistrial for school exec hired after sex abuse charges

A judge has declared a mistrial in the case against a Colorado man who was hired by New Mexico’s largest school district after he had been charged with sexually abusing two young boys.

Jurors in Denver told the judge on Monday they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in the case against Jason Martinez.

Martinez was arrested in Denver in 2013 and later given a job at an Albuquerque school district after officials failed to complete a background check. The outcry over his hiring led Albuquerque Schools Superintendent Luis Valentino to resign.

Prosecutors said Monday they would seek a retrial against Martinez.