Nipomo crash that severed 10-year-old’s hand will likely send former coach to prison

A former youth wrestling coach who police say was under the influence of drugs when he choked a teenager driving him to the hospital and caused a rollover crash, is expected to be sentenced to four years in state prison next week after entering into a plea agreement.

John Gilbert Martinez, 58, of Guadalupe, was facing six felonies including mayhem, assault, willful injury to a child and battery; as well as a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance — prescription drugs and methamphetamine.

On Aug. 24, Martinez pleaded no contest to a single felony charge of battery resulting in great bodily injury, and the remaining charges were dismissed.

On Oct. 9, 2015, two teens and a 10-year-old were taking Martinez to a local hospital after suspecting he took too many pills.

The 16-year-old testified in a December hearing that Martinez grabbed the steering wheel as the vehicle traveled at approximately 65 mph on Thompson Road in Nipomo.

In the ensuing crash, the 10-year-old was ejected from the vehicle and suffered a collapsed lung, broken pelvis and a severed hand which had to be surgically reattached, according to prosecutors.

Martinez remains in custody at San Luis Obispo County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 12.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Nipomo crash that severed 10-year-old’s hand will likely send former coach to prison."