Decatur man denied pretrial release after child sex abuse, kidnapping charges

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A Decatur man accused of locking an underage girl inside his truck and offering her money for sex was denied pretrial release.

George Martin, 53, pleaded not guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, kidnapping and indecent solicitation charges on Wednesday.

According to a sworn statement, Decatur police spoke with an underage girl who said she and her friends had gotten a ride home from church day camp from Martin, who lived next door.

The girl told police that after Martin dropped her friends off, they drove to a liquor store in a strip mall on West King Street.

The sworn said Martin had gotten out and locked the girl inside his truck, offering her a drink of alcohol when he returned.

The girl told police that Martin twice offered her money to have sex with him, groping her as he made the second offer.

She told Martin she had to use the bathroom at the Dollar Tree in the same strip mall. According to the sworn, Martin was said to have threatened to hurt her or shoot her if she tried anything, again groping her as they walked into the store.

The girl told police that she returned to the truck, grabbed her backpack and went back inside the store to tell the workers Martin had groped her.

Martin then left the scene.

Decatur police added in the sworn statement that Dollar Tree camera footage showed Martin and the girl walking towards the bathroom, and Martin groping her.

Police arrested Martin at his home on May 20.

According to the sworn, Martin told police that he knew the girl was underage and admitted to giving her a ride, but he denied touching her.

He's due back in court on June 30.