BRENHAM MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON

  

Charles Martin, 41 of Brenham, was found guilty by a jury of Assault Causing Bodily Injury with a Previous Conviction Wednesday.  Punishment was assessed at the maximum of 20 years confinement by Judge Carson Campbell after a hearing before the Court.

Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Family Violence) is typically a misdemeanor, however, when it is shown at trial that the defendant has been previously convicted of domestic violence, the charge is enhanced to a Third Degree Felony.  At the hearing before the Court, evidence was presented of over a dozen other convictions including four felony convictions for domestic violence.  Because of the prior convictions, the punishment range was enhanced to that of a Second Degree felony, 2-20 years confinement.  Additionally, evidence was presented that Martin is presently serving a seven-year prison sentence for domestic violence out of another county.  The Court ordered the Washington County sentence to be “stacked”, or served consecutively with the other sentence.

Martin was arrested in September of 2019 by the Brenham Police Department after the victim in the case called 911 and reported the assault.  She was bleeding and showed signs of injury when the officers arrived.

Full Press Release:

MAXIMUM SENTENCE FROM COURT AFTER FAMILY VIOLENCE JURY TRIAL

BRENHAM, TEXAS, December 16, 2021 – Charles Martin, 41, of Brenham, was found guilty by a jury of Assault Causing Bodily Injury With a Previous Conviction on December 15, 2021.  Punishment was assessed at 20 years confinement by Judge Campbell after a hearing before the Court.  Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Haevischer and Ryon Adams represented the State at trial, and the defendant was represented by Scott Ballard.

Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Family Violence) is typically a misdemeanor, however, when it is shown at trial that the defendant has been previously convicted of domestic violence, the charge is enhanced to a Third Degree Felony.  At the hearing before the Court, evidence was presented of over a dozen other convictions including four felony convictions for domestic violence.  Because of the prior convictions, the punishment range was enhanced to that of a Second Degree felony, 2-20 years confinement.  Additionally, evidence was presented that Martin is presently serving a seven-year prison sentence for domestic violence out of another county.  The Court granted a Motion by Haevischer and ordered the Washington County sentence to be “stacked”, served consecutively with the other sentence.

Martin was arrested in September of 2019 by the Brenham Police Department after the victim in the case called 911 and reported the assault.  She was bleeding and showed signs of injury when the officers arrived.  The case was indicted in June of 2020, and tried this week.

“This sentence is not just punishment for what he did to this victim,” Haevischer explained, “but it protects any woman Martin could have abused if he were walking the streets.”  She went on, “He’s already had countless victims, now he’s paying for it.”

Later, District Attorney Julie Renken commented, “We are only just now getting back into having jury trials.  Since this case involved a repeat, violent offender it was on the list of priority cases to try.”  She continued, “This verdict and sentence should send a message to the Charles Martins of Washington County that Court is back in session and we’re ready to go.”