Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Sonny Martinez of Cheektowaga has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, two counts of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and two counts of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree.

It is alleged that during the early morning hours of January 19, 2019, the defendant caused the death of his girlfriend, 23-year-old Brittney Balbuzoski of Buffalo, inside his apartment on Ivanhoe Road. Martinez is accused of strangling the victim and recklessly causing her death.

Martinez is scheduled to return on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He remains remanded without bail.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 59 years in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the DA’s Homicide Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.