Court Sentences Former Police Officer to Jail and Probation for Sex Crime against Minor

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden sentenced former Porterville police officer Wayne Martin, age 34, to 180 days in jail and three years probation. On June 4, 2019, Martin pleaded no contest to one felony count of meeting a minor for a lewd purpose. The crime occurred on September 16, 2018, against a single 17-year-old female victim.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Melissa Chabra argued for more jail time, enrollment in a sex offender treatment program, and a written post sentencing no contact order. These additional terms were not imposed by the court; however, the court verbally admonished Martin not to contact the victim.

Supervising DDA Chabra also argued that according to California Penal Code section 290(b), a conviction for this crime requires sex offender registration for life. The court imposed sex offender registration only for the term of probation.

“We are disappointed in this sentence and will be appealing the lack of lifetime sex offender registration,” said District Attorney Tim Ward.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Supervising Deputy District Attorney Melissa Chabra (559) 636-5494