Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Sonny Martinez of Cheektowaga has been arraigned before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice Paul S. Piotrowski on one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class “C” non-violent felony. He was arraigned on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

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 home on Ivanhoe Road. Martinez is accused of strangling the victim and recklessly causing her death.

Martinez is scheduled to return on Thursday, January 24 at 8:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He remains remanded without bail.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 5-15 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.