You wonder when former Board of Education chair Jessica Martinez hits bottom, or recognizes it before it’s too late.
Domestic violence encounters, drug issues, federal charges she conspired with State Senator Dennis Bradley to commit election fraud are just some of the entanglements enveloping her life. The latest issue, according to a story by CT Post reporter Dan Tepfer, centers on Martinez violating the terms of pretrial release with cocaine use and abandoning drug treatment as required to remain free on bond following indictment in 2021.
From Tepfer:
But according to a memorandum filed by Martinez’s probation officer, Martinez tested positive again for cocaine use prior to a court appearance on July 11.
On July 14, the memorandum states that Martinez arrived late to her group therapy and was denied entry. She said she “overslept” due to not feeling well, the memo states.
Martinez was then excused from group therapy on July 18 after claiming she had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the document. But the memo states that despite repeated requests from her probation officer, Martinez did not provide COVID test results.
Martinez and her ex-lawyer Bradley have been charged with federal wire fraud in connection with his run for state senate in 2018. The government alleges they manipulated finance reports to secure nearly $180,000 in taxpayer money under Connecticut’s public finance system. Martinez served as campaign treasurer.
The relationship between Bradley and Martinez is messy. He served as her lawyer during her scrapes with local and state law enforcement. Then when the heat was turned up by the feds investigating Bradley’s run for state office she claims, according to court filings, he advised her what to say to federal agents and before a grand jury. She has been hit with additional charges of providing false information.
Martinez’s public defender asserts Bradley was a puppet master who hoodwinked her to craft language to shield him from federal charges. The trial is on hold indefinitely as defense teams and prosecutors spar over evidence the government wants included, a matter under review by a federal appeals court.
Court filings have signaled Martinez’s defense assuming she goes to trial: He double-crossed me to do those things and then duped me into what to say. The problem with that defense? Witnesses declaring ah no, she knew exactly what she was doing backed by mountain ranges of paperwork with her signature on them.
It’s hard not to consider Martinez’s public defender urging her to cut her losses, enter a plea and throw herself upon the mercy of the federal system.
Beats the potential alternative.
It’s hard not to consider Martinez’s public defender urging her to cut her losses, enter a plea and throw herself upon the mercy of the federal system.
Beats the potential alternative and that is wait, for Senator Bradley to throw her under the Bus!
Maybe Bradley’s not CR&L ing her yet, unless Martinez’s has more on Bradley then he has on her? This is like a chapter out of the Sopranos crime drama.