A registered sex offender accused of re-offending faces life in prison if he's convicted at his trial in Waupaca County July 13 — more than three years after the original charges were filed.
John Martin, 32, of Weyauwega, faces two counts of child enticement, five counts of bail jumping and two counts of obstructing an officer. His journey through the justice system just might be a textbook case of how many things can go wrong with a criminal prosecution.
The case had to be restarted twice, once because of misfiled charges, and a second time because of a mistrial.
In those three years, the prosecutor, defense attorney and judge have changed.
"I am sure the delays in this case have been frustrating," defense attorney Leonard Kachinsky said, declining to further discuss the case because of the upcoming trial.
Assistant Dist. Atty. Brenda Freeman could not be reached for a comment.
Martin was released from prison in February 2004 after serving eight years on two counts of second-degree sexual assault. Both charges involved incidents with teen girls.
Because Martin was a lifetime registrant on the sexual offender registry, New London Police were alerted to his release and police then notified Martin's neighbors.
However, according to the criminal complaint, one of those neighbors at the Avon Street apartment building was a 15-year-old girl who, in April and May 2006, became a target for Martin, who tried repeatedly to invite her into his apartment, exposed himself to her and, on one occasion, grabbed her and put his hands under her shirt and bra.
Martin was charged with second-degree sexual assault and child enticement, and under state law, a second conviction of child sexual assault is subject to a mandatory life sentence — the "two strikes law."
According to online court records Dist. Atty. John Snider, in December 2006, asked the charges be dismissed because the case was charged out incorrectly..........Sarah Tofte
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