LANCASTER MAN GETS 234 YEARS FOR '96 ROBBERY; JUDGE CITES DEFENDANT'S PAST RECORD IN DECIDING SENTENCE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

A Lancaster man was sentenced Friday to 234 years to life in prison for a brutal home invasion robbery in which two armed men raped four women and held four men hostage for more than two hours.

Arturo Martinez, 27, who had proclaimed his innocence in a sudden outburst during a previous court appearance, showed no reaction as Superior Court Judge John Fisher imposed the sentence.

``(The judge) especially noted the defendant's past criminal history,'' Deputy District Attorney Kelly Cromer said. ``It was only misdemeanors, but one involved an assault on a victim where the victim lost consciousness and received a broken jaw, according to a probation department report.''

Martinez was convicted in December of 20 counts of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, rape and other sexual-assault charges. When the jury returned its verdict, Martinez broke into sobs, then cried out, ``I didn't do it.''

Co-defendant Richard Nieto, 30, of Palmdale was convicted of the same 20 counts and was sentenced earlier this month to 368 years to life in prison.

Martinez made no statement at his sentencing, which was attended by six to eight members of his family and three of the victims. The defendant presented a letter to the judge, but the missive was sealed, Cromer said.

Nieto and Martinez were charged in a January 1996 incident in which two armed men - one wearing a ski mask - entered an apartment in the 2000 block of Westwood Court about 1:30 or 1:45 a.m., apparently after following a man and two women from a Lancaster nightclub.

Entering through an unlocked door, the intruders held the three - plus two other women and three men already at the apartment - for more than two hours.

After tying up the four men, Martinez shot at one but missed and hit him in the face with the gun. They robbed the victims of jewelry and money, and systematically raped the four women.

Once the intruders left, the victims were able to free themselves and called 911.

Prosecutors said Martinez was identified by the victims and was linked to the crime through circumstantial evidence. Martinez was the one wearing the mask, prosecutors said.

``During part of the crime, according to witnesses, they were able to see his face,'' said Deputy District Attorney John Spillane.

Spillane also said other evidence connected Martinez to Nieto.

``They left Nieto's home together, they were driving Martinez's car, they were seen together at the Desert Inn,'' Spillane said. ``They signed in at the disco.''