Court officer charged with raping shackled female detainee

Posted Thursday, March 5, 2015 6:12 am

LAWRENCE (AP) >> A Lawrence District Court officer has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting a female prisoner while she was in leg shackles.

Jose Martinez, 16-year employee at the courthouse, was held on $40,000 bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to three counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault and battery. He was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and the courthouse unless he is there for his case.

The woman says Martinez raped and assaulted her in the courthouse elevator, in a holding cell and in maintenance area under a stairwell. The alleged assaults occurred in July 2009 and again in September and October of last year.

The 46-year-old Martinez's lawyer says the assaults "did not happen" and surveillance video will clear his client.