Page 4 - Paul Stracci News Today

Paul Stracci and J. Michael Woods, Martinez’s attorneys, filed a motion Monday for certification for interlocutory appeal because Newton County Circuit Court Judge Jeryl Leach, who is presiding over the case, denied the motion to dismiss “without specific findings of fact or conclusions of law.”

Indiana courts have addressed issues of undue and prejudicial influence on a grand jury, but "none square completely with the unique circumstances of this case," the defense said.

The sheriff is accused of driving an unmarked Jeep TrackHawk at up to 50 mph over the speed limit last fall as two Crown Point officers chased him with their

A special judge rejected the Lake County sheriffs motion to dismiss his indictment on a felony count of resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor reckless driving.

The indictment states that Martinez “did knowingly or intentionally flee” from Crown Point police and that he “did recklessly operate a motor vehicle by driving at such an unreasonably high rate of speed as to endanger the safety or property of others.”

If Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota accepts Eric S. Hummels plea agreement, he could face a sentence of one to 8 1/2 years.

Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. says his indictment should be dismissed because a special prosecutor unduly influenced a grand jury. The special prosecutor said he was overly fair to Martinez.

A warrant permits a comprehensive search of Sheriff Oscar Martinezs cellphone, which was seized Tuesday as part of an investigation into allegations of resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Prosecutor Bernard Carter said the video police eventually obtained gave detectives a snapshot, but it will take a "team effort" to solve the case.

The state charges stem from a Sept. 18 incident in which Crown Point Police officers conducting a traffic stop at about 11:30 p.m. in the 9000 block of Taft Street saw a black SUV traveling northbound on Main Street “at what appeared to be at a speed well above the 45 mph posted limit.”