According to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming, Casper’s James Martin, in addition to the state’s charges of child sexual abuse, held a minor on state borders for illegal sexual purposes. faces federal charges of transporting
If convicted on the federal indictment, Martin faces 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and $5,000 under the Justice Act for Victims of Sex Trafficking, according to the federal indictment. face the assessment of
In addition to the list of penalties, the FBI affidavit supporting the federal charges contains information not discussed in the state/Natrona County case.
In the state lawsuit, Martin appeared before District Court Judge Daniel Forsey on Tuesday for arraignment and pleaded guilty to 13 counts of child sexual abuse and three counts of child sexual exploitation. He pleaded not guilty to
Another felony count for depriving a minor of guardianship has been dismissed, assistant district attorney Blaine Nelson told Forgay.
That, combined with Blaine’s comment in December that the FBI was also investigating Martin, indicated that separate cases had occurred.
James Warren Martin. Courtesy Wyoming Highway Patrol
Locally, the affair began in September 2021 when he became romantically interested in a girl born in 2008, according to court documents.
According to the FBI agent’s affidavit, the guardian reported that Martin was the victim’s cousin.
In October 2022, the girl’s parents noticed “strange behavior” between the two, and on November 17, Martin abruptly quit his job and the victim stopped returning to class.
The victim’s family reported that she was missing and presumably taken away by Martin.
Law enforcement issued an AMBER Alert on Nov. 17 and the two were arrested in western Arizona the following day. Authorities confirmed the girl was safe and arrested Martin.
On December 30, Martin was handed over from La Paz County, Arizona to Natrona County. It was where and where he heard the charges on his first appearance in circuit court.
Meanwhile, the FBI was crafting its own case.
On December 27, the federal government filed a criminal complaint on two counts against Martin.
- On November 16-18, he transported minors “in interstate commerce, with the intention of engaging in sexual acts with which such individuals may be prosecuted for criminal offenses.”
- From November 8 to 22, he said, “The production of such visual depictions included the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct….” accessed for the purpose.
On that day, FBI agents filed an affidavit seeking a warrant for Martin’s arrest.
The agent’s affidavit covers much of the same material that accompanies the prosecution in Natrona County.
But it goes into more detail about the exchange of erotic messages, Martin’s arrest in Arizona, and interviews of him and the victim by an Arizona-based FBI agent and a child advocacy forensic interviewer in Torrington.
After being informed of his rights, Martin told investigators he picked up the girl near the school and kicked her out of Wyoming to protect her from physical and emotional abuse from her parents. Martin told investigators he did not report the alleged abuse to police because he feared they would not believe him.
He told his agent that his relationship with the girl was just friendship. I’m not a monster, I’m in love with her.'”
Martin also understood that it was illegal to own videos of underage girls engaging in sexual acts.
During the interview, the victim told her agent that she and Martin spent the night at a hotel and that she wanted to get married and thought it was okay to marry him. denied.
She returned to Wyoming and her clothing was turned over to her guardian. There was semen on her panties, and testing at the Wyoming State Crime Institute determined that the semen supported Martin’s DNA match to her.
During an interview with a child advocacy forensic interviewer in Torrington, she initially resisted questions because she wanted the FBI to trust him.
She explained how their relationship began, how much she loved him, and their first sexual encounter.
According to the affidavit, when asked how Martin’s semen got onto her underwear, the victim smiled and replied.
On January 11, the FBI dropped the child pornography charges, and federal prosecutors asked for the case to be closed.
Casper’s U.S. District Court Chief Judge Skadar granted the request.
On February 14, Skavdahl granted the prosecutor’s request for the case to be unsealed.
no further action was taken USA vs James Warren Martin Since then, according to federal court records.
Wyoming Highway Patrol educates truckers about truckers against human trafficking
Children’s rights advocacy project Windmill for abused children
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the windmill as a new national symbol for child abuse prevention. why? Because windmills by their very nature allude to playfulness, joy and childhood. It has come to serve as a physical reminder of the great childhood we all wish for in our children.
