Sexual assault case involving minor adjourned

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on October 7, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 43-year-old Lethbridge man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2021 had his matters addressed briefly in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday.
Lethbridge lawyer Frank Llewellyn appeared on behalf of his client, James Robert Martinac, but simply requested an adjournment until next month.

Martinac, who remains in remand custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre and was not required to attend court, faces several charges, including sexual assault, sexual assault of a person under the age of 16, sexual exploitation, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and possession of child pornography.

On April 28 of this year 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’s next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

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