The trial of a former Boy Scout leader and foster parent accused of sexually abusing three young boys — two were his foster kids and one was in his Boy Scout troop — is happening this week in Greene County.
John “Ian” Edward Martin, 53, faces 17 felony charges. They include counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, first- and second-degree statutory sodomy.
If convicted, Martin faces up to life in prison under Missouri sentencing guidelines. Greene County Circuit Judge Kaiti Greenwade is presiding over the jury trial.
A jury was picked Monday, June 24, and attorneys gave their opening remarks Tuesday morning.
The alleged victims are identified as Victim 1, Victim 2 and Victim 3 in the probable cause statement written by an officer with the Republic Police Department in January of 2023.
Victim 1 disclosed he was abused by Martin over a one to two month time period when the victim was 13 and living at Martin’s home in Republic before he was taken on July 23, 2020.
Victim 2 disclosed he was abused by Martin beginning in the summer of 2009. The abuse allegedly happened within the first few months the victim lived in Martin’s home and continued through the summer/fall of 2010, when the victim was 14 or 15 years old.
Though it is not explicitly stated in the probable cause statement, based on the attorneys’ opening statements Tuesday, Victim 1 and 2 were being fostered at Martin's home at the time of the alleged abuse. While the victims were being fostered by Martin, they participated in Martin’s Boy Scout troop.
Police: ‘(H)istorical evidence shows he is relentless'
Victim 3 disclosed he was abused by Martin when the victim was about 10 years old and he began spending time with Martin at a church and at Martin’s home in Springfield from about the summer of 1997 to around the summer and fall of 1998. The name of the church is redacted in the probable cause statement, but based on opening statements, Victim 3 was likely attending Boy Scout meetings at the church. Victim 3 came to know Martin through the Boy Scouts.
The three victims are expected to testify during the trial.
“There is evidence to show Martin has manipulated victims for many years, and the historical evidence shows he is relentless in doing so,” the officer wrote in the probable cause statement. “Martin is active in the freemasons and was a foster parent and Boy Scout leader; he only stopped after being forced to stop.
“He actively put himself into positions of influence and authority over young boys before taking advantage of them. He did not stop for over 20 years,” the officer wrote, in part. “Based on the disclosures of the victims and other persons involved in this case, there are reasonable grounds to believe Martin has committed hundreds of sexual assault against children.”
According to defense attorney Donovan Dobbs, Victim 3 is a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America.
Throughout his opening statements to the jury, Dobbs repeatedly called the victims’ allegations “opportunities for selfish gain.”
The Hauxeda is attending Martin’s trial and will publish a story when testimony concludes.
Naked ‘tick checks’ and spankings, sexual assaults at church
According to the probable cause statement, Victim 1 and Victim 2 both described having to take off their clothes and stand in front of Martin while Martin checked them for ticks.
The officer wrote that Victim 1 described being made to strip naked before Martin spanked him, and that Martin made Victim 1 shave his genital area in front of Martin. Victim 1 described to police how Martin allegedly examined the shaving job and then “took the razor and shaved the rest for him.”
According to the officer’s report, Victim 2 described a series of sex acts Martin allegedly initiated with Victim 2. Victim 2 also described Martin spanking his “bare butt with a paddle.”
According to the officer’s report, Victim 3 also discussed Martin engaging in sex acts with him on several occasions. Victim 3 disclosed that Martin would have sex with him after the Boy Scout meetings at the church.
Police officer describes manipulation tactics
In the probable cause statement, the Republic police officer wrote that Martin lost his peace officer license due to Victim 3’s allegations and had to sign a Greene County prosecution agreement to stay away from the victim due to a stalking/harassment case. Documentation from that case detailed that “Martin suffered mentally and physically from the sudden breakup.” The document stated Martin’s conduct was “unreasonably intrusive.”
The officer wrote that Victim 3 subsequently “stepped into a life of crime and possible mental health concerns since his victimization.”
According to the statement, investigators with the Missouri Children’s Division found enough evidence that Martin abused Victim 1 that the agency blocked Martin from being a foster parent. The officer wrote that Martin has continued to fight for the right to foster again. After the Children's Division filed the judgment, Martin filed a motion for a new trial and was denied. The police officer wrote in the probable cause statement that Martin’s attorney told the officer in 2023 they were in the process of appealing the judgment against Martin.
Two other persons did not cooperate with investigation
The officer wrote that another person — their relation to Martin is redacted in the probable cause statement — initially agreed to tell the officer about sexual abuse involving Martin. But within two days of that agreement, that person refused to speak with the officer.
“I learned, through his mother, that Martin called him just after I hung up the phone and offered to pay his rent for the month,” the officer wrote in the report. “I was told Martin pays for the victim’s phone and likely monitors his calls. This same victim, as reported by his mother, in the past, has been given a car, promised the house, and given other gifts to ultimately perpetuate silence of the abuse.”
According to the probable cause statement, Victim 2 told the officer this person, who struggles with his mental health, would speak of the abuse “if Martin did not manipulate and control him.”
The officer wrote that there is evidence to show another child was a “victim of intense sexual abuse starting at 10 to 11 years old.” The officer wrote this second suspected victim disclosed allegations of sexual abuse on Dec. 22, 2012.
“Martin repeatedly contacted him and had him back in Martin’s house on Dec. 25, 2012, against the standard practices of the police, Children’s Division, and the (Child Advocacy Center),” the officer wrote. “His interview was on (Dec. 26, 2012), and he recanted. However, he did talk about his ‘great Christmas.’”
The officer wrote there was evidence to show this second potential victim was given significant gifts around this same time period, including a new pet.
