N.H. man denies child sex assaults
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By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: April 14, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION - A New Hampshire man is free on bail after denying charges Monday he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl. If convicted on the charges, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
James R. Martin, 26, of Grafton, N.H., pleaded innocent in White River Junction District Court to felony charges of aggravated sexual assault of a victim younger than 13 and repeated aggravated sexual assault, each of which carries a possible sentence of life in prison.
Martin, dressed in a black shirt, black slacks and a tie, did not speak during his arraignment and after pleading innocent, he was released on $10,000 bail.
According to affidavits filed with the court, last summer, when she was either 11 or 12 years old, the girl told her mother that Martin had repeatedly assaulted her between January and June 2003, when she was 6. The girl told her mother the assaults occurred in White River Junction, records state.
According to affidavits from both police and the girl's mother, the girl recalled the assaults after learning about sexually transmitted diseases at school.
Affidavits from the girl's mother and father state Martin had unsupervised contact with her during the first half of 2003.
During a videotaped interview, the girl told police that she hadn't discussed the assaults with her parents because Martin allegedly told her, "Don't tell or else," records state.
On Friday, records state, police interviewed Martin, who denied the allegations.
Court records state Martin has been charged with 17 crimes since 1999, ranging from felony charges of first-degree aggravated domestic assault and burglary to misdemeanor charges of simple assault and petty larceny.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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