A Casper resident, James Warren Martin, pled guilty in both federal and state courts to charges involving the abuse and interstate transport of a minor, Oil City News reports.
The 37-year-old now faces up to 45 years of incarceration following his admissions in Natrona County District Court on Tuesday.
Martin’s charges stem from events in November 2022, when he abruptly left his job and transported a young teenage girl, with whom he had a prior relationship, from Wyoming to Arizona. This incident led to federal charges of interstate transport with intent for criminal activity and multiple state-level charges related to sexual abuse.
In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Martin acknowledged transporting the minor with intent to engage in illegal acts, leading to a recommended 10-year federal sentence, to be served concurrently with any state-imposed sentence. Following this federal hearing, he pled guilty to six counts of abuse-related charges in state court, which could result in an additional 45 years’ imprisonment.
A pre-sentencing report detailing Martin’s history will be presented in both courts before sentencing, scheduled for January 23, 2024.
