Proctorville man convicted of attempted aggravated murder, other charges following shooting of deputy sheriff
A Proctorville resident received a sentence of over 49 years in prison following a four-day jury trial and approximately five hours of deliberations in the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas which concluded May 1, Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman announced May 12.
Fifty-one-year-old Charles Martin faced 12 total felony charges and an additional seven firearm specifications stemming from an indictment returned by the Lawrence County Grand Jury in October 2024. Martin faced counts of attempted aggravated murder and attempted murder, three counts of felonious assault, five counts of having weapons while under a disability, inducing panic and obstructing official business.
Martin’s trial was presided over by the Honorable Judge Andrew Ballard. The State of Ohio’s case was presented by assigned special prosecutors, Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman and Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Matthew Loesch. Martin was represented by Huntington, W.Va. Attorney Roger Smith. The Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office had accepted a designation as special prosecutors in this matter due to the victims’ relationship with the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
On Sept. 28, 2024, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputies, namely Deputy Wesley Barker, Sergeant Anthony Riley and Deputy Charles “Jeff” Mullins were dispatched to 17 Township Road 1138 in Proctorville, following a 911 call reporting an intoxicated male, identified as Charles Martin, who was allegedly being argumentative and who had a number of firearms in his possession.
Upon arrival, law enforcement met with other occupants of the residence, who directed them to Martin’s location in the master bedroom. The deputies identified themselves and asked Martin if he was armed, to which he twice responded that he was not. In reality, Martin was allegedly lying in bed with four guns concealed underneath the sheets and another on the nightstand next to him.
Deputy Barker spotted the stock of an AR-style rifle sticking out of the sheets and quickly retrieved the same. He then told Martin to roll out of the bed so that he could be placed in handcuffs. At that point, Martin allegedly sprang from underneath the covers armed with a loaded Glock handgun. Martin allegedly pointed the weapon directly at Sergeant Riley, who was able to retreat prior to being shot.
Martin then allegedly aimed his weapon at Deputy Barker and fired a single round, which struck Barker in the upper part of his right leg. Deputy Barker quickly returned a volley of gunfire toward Martin to allow him to escape from the bedroom. Martin retreated to an attached bathroom after receiving gunshot wounds to his lower body.
Deputy Barker was quickly tended to by his fellow officers and by emergency medical personnel. He was taken to a local emergency room, where he received treatment for his gunshot wound and was ultimately released.
Martin allegedly remained barricaded within the bathroom and was eventually apprehended by SWAT personnel after an hourlong standoff. He was then given emergency medical treatment both at the scene and at a local hospital.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was contacted and ultimately took charge of the investigation. Following this investigation, Deputy Barker and all other law enforcement officers were found to have conducted themselves in a professional and exemplary manner, while Martin was indicted on the criminal charges detailed above.
The State of Ohio presented 20 witnesses and entered over 100 exhibits into evidence during the course of the trial. The defense rested without presenting any evidence.
Martin was ultimately convicted of all 12 counts that he faced, along with each and every firearm specification. Judge Ballard pronounced sentence on May 7, ordering Martin to serve 49 to 54.5 years in the Ohio State Department of Corrections. All firearms in the possession of Martin at the time of the offenses were ordered to be forfeited.
Shane Tieman stated as follows, “When our office was requested to see that justice was done in this matter as special prosecutors, we understood the responsibility that came with such an assignment. We have the highest level of respect and gratitude for the brave men and women in law enforcement, regardless of the jurisdiction that they serve. Any attack on them should always be prosecuted to the fullest extent of our criminal justice system.”
Mr. Tieman and Mr. Loesch further express their deepest thanks and appreciation to the responding members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Lawrence County law enforcement community as a whole.