TRUMBULL COUNTY Paddling case to go before grand jury

The Fowler police chief has not been charged with a crime.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
FOWLER -- An investigation of the township police chief will be presented to a Trumbull County grand jury.
Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said his office, along with state and federal agencies, is investigating allegations that Chief James Martin was paddling teenagers as part of a juvenile diversion program.
"This case will be presented to the grand jury, and since it is under investigation right now I cannot make any further comment," Watkins said Wednesday.
Since grand jury proceedings are secret, it is not known when the case will be presented.
Martin has not been charged with any crime.
He was placed on unpaid suspension Monday, said Atty. Mark Finamore, the township's legal counsel.
Martin, who also is a captain in the Howland Township Police Department, was suspended from his post there as well, said Police Chief Paul Monroe.
Howland officials set a disciplinary hearing for Martin for 4 p.m. April 28.
Atty. Randall Weltman, who represents Martin, said he will request a continuance.
"The criminal investigation most likely will still be going on at that time so it would be difficult for him to defend himself at the administrative hearing," Weltman said.
Darlene St. George, township administrator, could not be reached to comment.
Civil lawsuit
A Vienna Township boy and his mother filed a civil lawsuit earlier this week in federal court stating that Martin violated the boy's constitutional rights by paddling him.
Atty. Sarah Kovoor, who along with Atty. Alan Matavich, represents the boy, said she has been contacted by others who said they too were paddled by Martin.
"My phone has been ringing off the hook," Kovoor said. "It's very disturbing. One of the people calling was a Howland Township boy who told me that he got in trouble in school in Howland and was referred to Martin's program in Fowler. He was paddled each time he went there."
She said the boy has spoken to FBI agents who are investigating the matter.
Kovoor said she questions why Fowler officials allowed Martin to conduct the diversion program. She noted that Howland Township officials had removed Martin from a diversion program there after allegations of paddling.
Fowler officials did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
According to a 1993 internal investigation conducted by former Howland Police Chief Steve Lamantia, Martin had admitted paddling about 20 juveniles at the Howland Township Police Department from 1975 to 1992.
The paddlings were done as part of the juvenile diversion program, Lamantia said. Lamantia removed Martin as diversion officer Feb. 16, 1993.
sinkovich@vindy.com