PSD PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING OFFICER J. MARTE MARTINEZ PLEADS GUILTY TO SUBMITTING FAKE TRANSCRIPTS TO INVESTIGATORS

News Release from Hawaii Attorney General, October 17, 2023

HONOLULU – Department of Public Safety (PSD) Public Safety Training Officer J. Marte Martinez pled guilty today to four charges—two counts of Tampering with a Government Record and two counts of Unsworn Falsification to Authorities—arising from her submission of fake academic transcripts to internal affairs investigators.

After concerns were raised about Ms. Martinez’s educational background, PSD initiated an internal investigation into whether Ms. Martinez was qualified to hold the position of Public Safety Training Officer.

In today’s proceedings, Ms. Martinez pled guilty to submitting false transcripts, purportedly from the University of Southern Oregon and the University of Northern Virginia, to the internal affairs investigators.

Tampering with a Government Record and Unsworn Falsification to Authorities are both misdemeanors. Each count is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

“Ms. Martinez knowingly submitted false documents about her educational background to misdirect an internal investigation looking into that exact issue,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez. “The people of Hawaiʻi rightfully expect integrity from public servants, and the Department of the Attorney General will forcefully prosecute this type of criminal behavior.”

The Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General led the investigation into this matter. Deputy Attorney General Lauren Nakamura of the Special Department of the Attorney General Investigation and Prosecution Division is the lead prosecutor on the case, State v. Martinez, 1CPC-22-000426.

First Circuit Court Judge Faʻauuga Toʻotoʻo scheduled Ms. Martinez’s sentencing for Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

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Coverage:

• Feb, 2023: Labor Board Nails DPS Conspiracy, Cover-up
• SA: DPS training officer pleads guilty to falsifying credentials | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
• CB: Public Safety Training Officer Pleads Guilty To Falsifying Records - Honolulu Civil Beat  
• KHON: PSD said Martinez remains employed and while they are aware of the criminal proceedings they cannot comment on personnel matters.

BACKGROUND:

• 2002: AFSCME Suspends UPW Leader Gary Rodrigues
• 2015: Ige's DPS Deputy Nominee Placed Kulani Warden on Unpaid Leave, Then Quit Job
• 2017: DPS Report: UPW Has Been Shielding Child Molesting Prison Guards since 2003
• 2017: After Hospital Debacle, DPS Decides it Might Finally be Able to Prohibit Some, but not all, UPW Members From Bringing Contraband into Prisons
• 2020: Audit: UPW Bosses Dip Beaks into Union Funds -- AFSCME “Greatly Concerned”
• 2020: AFSCME Takes Control of UPW--Boots Nakanelua, Endo
• 2020: Forcing United Public Workers to Enter New Era
• 2020: Judge orders Kauai Councilman Arthur Brun to remain in custody—UPW-USO Prison Smuggling an Issue in Case
• 2020: UPW Prison Guard Busted Allegedly Smuggling Meth into OCCC
• 2020: Ige Appoints Max Otani Director of Department of Public Safety
• 2020: UPW on the Job: Hilo Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty for Assaulting an Inmate and Conspiring with Other Officers to Cover it Up
• 2021: Prison Drug Smuggling: UPW, HGEA Retaliate on Top Hawaii Prison Official After Guard Refuses Contraband Search
• 2022: UPW News: HCCC Supervisor gets 12 years for 'multi-year conspiracy to cover up abuse'
• 2021: Secret Arbitration Revealed: How DPS Official Kept Crooked Cop On The Job After FBI Raid
• 2022: Hawaii Attorney General Joins Suit to Mandate Minimum Wage for Prisoners
• 2022: Audit: 50 Years of UPW Overtime Games at DPS
• 2022: Ige Signs HB2171 Establishing State Department of Law Enforcement
• 2022: Three Former Hawaii Correctional Officers Convicted of Assaulting Inmate and Attempting Cover Up
• 2022: Jail Assault: Guards, Inmates Sentenced to Spend More Time Together
• 2023: Feds: Jail Guards Smuggling Illegal Fireworks thru OCCC Mailroom
• 2023: Four Hawaii Correctional Officers Sentenced for Abusing Inmate and Conspiring to Cover Up Abuse
• 2023: Court documents disclose Miske’s alleged “purchase” of stevedore jobs, and ties to a prison guard at OCCC
• 2023: Feds: Female Guard Gave Miske associate access to cell phone, drugs while detained at OCCC
• 2023: Big Island Prison Guard In Federal Prison--Got Fired, But HLRB Orders him Reinstated with Back Pay
• 2023: Ethics: Clerk at AGs Office Fed Info to Lawyer Suing Crooked Sheriff for Sex Assault