Jury weighs charges in child sex photos case
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on February 28, 2008 1:48 PM
A Goldsboro man accused of taking lewd photos that victimized his young daughter nearly a decade ago was expected to face a jury's deliberations this morning.
Glenn Martin Jr., 55, had a scheduled release date in September 2007 from the Neuse Correctional Facility in Wayne County, state corrections records show.
Martin was being tried in Superior Court on two counts of indecent liberties with a minor and three counts of using a minor in obscene photos.
Martin gave up parental rights to his daughter in the early part of the decade, handing them over to adoptive parents in court proceedings, authorities said Wednesday.
Assistant District Attorney Terry Yeh and defense attorney Geoff Hulse presented closing arguments late Wednesday, and a jury deliberated for about 45 minutes before proceedings ended for the evening.
State Superior Court Judge Benjamin Alford allowed the jury foreman to poll the other 11 jurors on whether to return on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
The jury decided to return at 9:30 this morning, and Alford said he expected the deliberations to begin immediately.
At issue in the trial is an alleged molestation incident and photos taped under a drawer depicting Martin's daughter, now in her teens.
Martin served sentences for forgery, possession of Schedule I drugs, passing worthless checks and other offenses, according to state corrections records.
Martin's sister Annie Rose said Thursday that Martin is "her hero," and that she did not believe he was guilty of obscenity or molestation.
In closing arguments, Hulse argued that Martin had admitted to being a heroin addict, but loved his daughter and testified that he would never harm her.
"He finally got it right, he finally got his life straightened out. He's a good person. A good person and a good father," Mrs. Rose said.