Martinez pleads guilty to burglary, assault
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Chimenco Martinez
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POLSON — A Polson man who was accused of breaking into another Polson man’s apartment and stabbing him has admitted committing the crimes. Chimeco Rivers Martinez, 18, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson on April 6 to aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon. The open pleas were entered in exchange for the state agreeing to dismiss at sentencing felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and kidnapping, and capping the state’s sentencing recommendation at 40 years in the Montana State Prion with 20 years suspended. The judge has a total 60 years prison time combining all the charges.
According to court records, at about 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 20, Polson Police responded to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center on a report that staff were treating the victim of a stabbing. The victim had suffered “several serious stab wounds and slashes to his arms.” The officers noted the injuries appeared to be defensive wounds to his arms, elbow, bicep, palms and wrist. The victim told police that he was at his apartment when a person entered his unit through a window. He said he tried to get the person to leave, but the intruder presented a knife and tried to stab him. The victim told police that he tried to defend himself but was unable to and fell over and was kicked in the face. He also told police that he thought the intruder seemed drunk, high, or on something. The intruder prevented the victim from leaving his apartment, despite the victim’s need for medical attention. At this point the victim had suffered serious slash wounds that would later require stitches. The victim went on to state that the intruder took his vehicle keys, wallet, two iPads, and an extension cord. When the intruder figured out which car at the apartment’s parking lot went to the victim’s keys, he forced the victim to get in the back seat. The victim said his captor “drove like a maniac” but eventually dropped him off at the hospital.
Officers took their investigation to the victim’s apartment and observed a footprint on a windowsill with a broken screen and window, confirming point of entry. The apartment was in disarray, there was blood gathered where the victim appeared to have treated his wounds. The officers also observed coins scattered about and located the victim’s wallet. Drops of blood and more coins lead from the apartment to where the victim’s car was parked. About two hours later police located the victim’s car parked at a parking lot in the 700 block of Polson’s Main Street with Martinez allegedly slumped over the steering wheel. Upon his arrest, Martinez was alleged to have been in possession of a folding pocketknife, methamphetamine, an extension cord, two iPads, and a bag of coins. Officers also observed blood in the back seat of the car and along the window buttons.
Martinez was 17 when the incident occurred, but due to the seriousness of the crimes his case stayed in adult court. Judge James Manley set sentencing for May 25. Martinez will remain in the Lake County jail until then.
