After a two-day trial, a Fulton man was found guilty of 12 felony offenses related to sex crimes against children, according to the Callaway County Prosecutors Office.
The trial of George Edward Martin, 58, took place June 20-21 in the Callaway County Circuit Court, Division 1, Judge Brouck Jacobs presiding.
A Callaway County jury found Martin guilty of the offenses of sodomy in the first degree, statutory sodomy in the second degree, sexual misconduct involving a child by inducement (three counts), enticement of a child (three counts), child molestation in the first degree (three counts) and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Criminal charges were filed against Martin in July 2016, when a 16-year-old boy reported Martin anally sodomized him while at Martin's home. DNA evidence was obtained from Martin that corroborated that child's account.
After those charges were filed, three other boys, ages 11 and 12, came forward to disclose they had been to Martin's home between May-July 2016 and that he induced them to remove their clothing and expose their genitals. They also said Martin had requested the boys touch his genitals and that Martin had touched the genitals of two of the boys.
A search warrant was executed on Martin's home during the investigation and computers were seized as evidence based on reports Martin had photographed the boys in the nude. Forensic analysis of the computers revealed a pornographic digital photo of Martin in his bedroom with one of the victims, as well as another unidentified boy, both approximately 7-9 years old. That image had been produced sometime between 2011 and April 2013.
Following the jury's verdicts, the judge ordered Martin held at the Callaway County Jail with no bond and set the case for post-trial motions and sentencing July 16. He faces up to 214 years in prison for the offenses.
The case was prosecuted by Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Wilson and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Risa Perkins. The case was defended by the Public Defender's Office. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office and Boone County Sheriff's Department Cyber Crimes Task Force.