Case involving child sex offences adjourned with assurance there will be a deposition soon

By Lethbridge Herald on October 19, 2023.

Delon Shurtz
LETHBRIDGE HERALD

It’s taking longer than anticipated to resolve charges against a 44-year-old Lethbridge man accused of numerous sex-related offences.

James Robert Martinac was expected to resolve his matters earlier this month but they were adjourned.

 When his case returned to Lethbridge court of Justice Wednesday it was adjourned again, but with an assurance that there will be a disposition “soon.”

During a brief court hearing in June, James Robert Martinac elected trial by Court of King’s bench judge alone, with a preliminary hearing, on charges of sexual assault, sexual contact with a child, luring a child under the age of 18, luring a child under the age of 16, possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation.

 He also faces newer charges out of Calgary of sexual contact with a child, sexual assault, possession of child pornography, distributing child pornography, and making child pornography.

Martinac appeared to be on the verge of resolving his charges late last year, then later decided to stand trial before changing his mind again and opting to resolve his charges with guilty pleas.

Lethbridge police reported in May 2022 they had charged a man with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2021. A month earlier 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.

The matter is scheduled to return to court Nov. 1.