Public Safety Training Officer Pleads Guilty To Falsifying Records
J. Marte Martinez is accused of lying about her educational background on job applications.
A training officer with the Department of Public Safety pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four counts stemming from allegations that she lied about her educational background on state job applications.聽
J. Marte Martinez, 58, was arrested in April 2022 after prosecutors said she falsified transcripts from the University of Southern Oregon and the University of Northern Virginia and submitted them to internal affairs investigators, according to the Attorney General鈥檚 Office. She was later released on $11,000 bail.聽
Martinez is also accused of lying about her education and qualifications on multiple other job applications she sent to the Department of Public Safety between 2015 and 2019.
She pleaded guilty in First Circuit Court in Honolulu to two counts of tampering with a government record and two counts of unsworn falsification to authorities.聽
Her attorney, Birney Bervar, did not respond to a message seeking comment.聽
Martinez is still employed with the department, according to Toni Schwartz, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety. Schwartz said in an emailed statement that the department was aware of the criminal charges and could not comment on personnel matters.
Each count carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a $2,000 fine, according to the Attorney General鈥檚 Office.聽
Martinez, who was in charge of training corrections officers and state deputy sheriffs, . The personnel investigation was completed in October 2019.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 18.
