Sex charges likely to go to trial
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 27, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A 44-year-old Lethbridge man who late last year appeared to be on the verge of resolving several sex-related charges, will likely stand trial, after all.During a brief hearing Monday in Lethbridge court of justice, James Robert Martinac elected trial by Court of King’s bench judge alone, with a preliminary hearing, on charges of sexual assault, sexual contact with a child, luring a child under the age of 18, possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation.
Before a trial can be set, however, a pre-preliminary hearing conference will be scheduled to discuss trial issues, followed by a bail hearing on Aug. 9.
Martinac also faces single charges out of Calgary of sexual contact with a child and sexual assault, and multiple charges of possession of child pornography, making/printing/publishing child pornography and distributing/selling child pornography. Those charges will also be part of the bail hearing in August, said Tara Hayes from Specialized Prosecution Services in Calgary.
Lethbridge police reported in May 2022 they had charged a man with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2021. A month earlier a 16-year-old girl reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by a man who is known to her. Investigation by members of the criminal investigation section determined the girl, who was 15-years-old at the time, had been staying with the man at his home and was given drugs and sexually assaulted on multiple occasions over the course of several months in 2021.
During their investigation police seized electronic devices that contained images of child pornography.
Martinac, who remains in remand custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, attended court in person and sat passively in the prisoners’ dock during his proceeding. He was ordered to appear by CCTV for his bail hearing.
e was also ordered that while he is in custody waiting for his bail hearing he is not to have any contact or communication with eight named individuals. A court-ordered ban prevents the publication of any information that could identify the complainant and any witnesses. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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