NEW YORK – A jury in New York City convicted Francisco Martinez, 43, a corrections officer, for physically, sexually, and psychologically abusing a woman multiple times over a three-year period. Martinez was convicted of rape in the third degree, stalking in the first and second degrees, and menacing in the second degree.

Martinez, who was free on bail, failed to return to court during the trial and is now a fugitive. He was convicted by the jury in absentia, and is expected to be sentenced at a later date.

“For years, the victim lived in fear at the hands of a serial abuser who threatened and intimidated her,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.,. “I commend the victim for her courage in coming forward and telling her story to the jury, and I thank the jurors for their service and careful attention in this case.”

Domestic violence remains one of the only areas of crime that has not seen a reduction in the past decade. Last year, the New York City Police Department responded to nearly 258,000 domestic violence incidents—more than 700 incidents each day. Furthermore, domestic violence abusers are frequently repeat offenders who abuse their victims more than once. According to the New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, 38 percent of domestic violence victims are abused again within 6 months. From 2007 to 2011, in New York County alone, 685 individuals were convicted of two or more domestic violence offenses.