TRUMBULL COUNTY Fowler's chief won't resign post

The township attorney will discuss the matter with trustees.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
FOWLER -- The township police chief, who is accused of paddling numerous juveniles as part of a diversion program, will not resign.
Atty. Randall Weltman, who represents Police Chief James Martin, says his client has no immediate plans to resign even though trustees have asked for him to step down.
"Right now there will be no resignation," Weltman said.
Martin, who declined to discuss the case, said he wants to talk with trustees before making any decisions.
Atty. Mark Finamore, who represents the township, said he plans to discuss the matter with trustees.
"If Chief Martin does not want to resign then the trustees will have to decide the next move," Finamore said.
Letter sent
Last week, Finamore sent a letter to Weltman stating that the trustees don't want Martin to continue as chief of the department. Finamore said the trustees wanted a voluntary resignation so that they didn't have to start removal proceedings.
Martin pleaded innocent to a 52-count indictment related to his actions in running the diversion program. He retired last month from his full-time job as police captain in Howland.
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 been on unpaid leave from the Fowler Department since April.
Facing charges
Martin, free on a $2,500 bond, 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 Trumbull 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.
Martin's attorney filed a motion Tuesday asking for 27 of the counts to be dismissed.
The indictment further states that Martin used a wooden paddle on several juveniles and adults numerous times as part of the diversion program. The adults were 18 and 20 years old. All the victims were male, officials said.
sinkovich@vindy.com