Clients reject ex-chief's settlement offers

The cases are continuing in federal court.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
FOWLER -- Offers to settle several lawsuits filed against the retired part-time police chief accused of paddling juvenile offenders have been rejected.
Atty. Sarah Kovoor, who along with Atty. Alan Matavich represent four people who took part in James Martin's juvenile diversion program, said the clients have decided not to settle at this time.
"The cases are continuing in federal court," Kovoor said. "We have hearings set for next month."
Last month, Martin had offered to pay cash settlements to three juveniles he paddled as part of a diversion program. The former chief, who retired from the part-time police chief's job last month, also has made an offer to pay a juvenile who took part in the program but was not paddled.
According to court motions, the chief was willing to pay Michael W. Harrington, 18, of Trumbull Drive, Niles, Robert J. McCrystal, 18, of Stillwagon Road, Howland, and Richard Thomas Woolf, 16, of Vienna, $15,000 each.
Martin was also willing to settle the case filed by Scott C. Villio, 20, of Oak Forest Drive, Niles, for $6,000. Villio was not paddled.
Martin's charges
Besides the civil cases, Martin is also facing criminal charges.
Martin, free on a $2,500 bond, has pleaded innocent to a 52-count indictment. He is facing 20 counts of dereliction of duty; 11 counts of misdemeanor assault; seven counts of unauthorized photography; 12 counts of using a sham legal process; and two felony counts of theft in office, said Dave Toepfer, an assistant county prosecutor.
Authorities said the charge of sham legal process means Martin showed juveniles a document that appeared official but in reality had no legal standing and was not lawfully issued.
State and federal officials began investigating Martin's juvenile diversion program in March.
The program used corporal punishment and was being operated out of the Fowler Township Police Department.
Martin has said that his program was designed to help juveniles.
Martin also worked full time as a police captain in Howland for 32 years. He retired from that position in May.
sinkovich@vindy.com