Sexual assault charges pending for seven years were dismissed Friday against Jeffrey Martin, a Normal man sentenced in February to 28 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
The 58-year-old defendant was accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman he lived with in 2016 in Normal.
McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds told WGLT that “due to communication with the victim regarding what is best for the victim and the victim’s health, the state has elected to dismiss charges.”
The woman, who is in her 80s, testified at Martin’s November trial on the child pornography charges. She said the computer seized by police as part of the sexual assault case was used exclusively by Martin while he stayed at her home.
Martin has served as his own lawyer throughout much of the seven years it has taken for the criminal cases to wind their way through the McLean County court system. He hired and fired several lawyers and was removed from the courtroom multiple times by judges who handled his cases.
At the November trial where Martin acted as his own counsel, he questioned the alleged victim during her testimony about the computer. Her responses included accusations that she feared Martin because of his angry outbursts. The woman allowed Martin to remain at her home after he was hired to work on electronics at her home and told her he had no place to stay.
Before he was sentenced Martin to 28 years in prison, Judge William Yoder cited Martin’s history of criminality and lack of empathy, saying, “when he is released, he is very likely to prey on the public again.”
