Source: pnj.com 1/6/25
After much furor amongst social media community groups in Santa Rosa County, a registered sex offender who volunteered in the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office’s new Chaplain Unit has stepped down.
In a since-deleted Facebook post by the SRSO, the department announced the launch of their new Chaplain Unit after Christmas. A photo included in the post shows a group of deputies and volunteers, including Charles Martin.
Following the announcement, many on social media pointed out that Martin is a registered sex offender. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sex offender registry, Martin has been a registered sex offender since 1989, the year he was arrested.
After the blowback, the SRSO issued a press release saying Martin was never an employee of the department, instead he was a volunteer who worked at the county jail once per week.
Isn’t social media a wonderful thing??
I am not on probation or parole but still on the registry. There are places I would like to volunteer but I have not done so because I learned my lesson years ago while on deferred adjudication where I greatly sacrificed to help my community and made it a better place by instigating getting rid of the 6 most corrupt city leaders and all I got in return was hatred towards me and more than 100 death threats because of my label.
After my experience I have just taken the fu attitude towards the human race. I just sometimes feel why should I help others when others treat me like dirt due to my label. I now only help my family and very select few people close to me. I might reconsider volunteer work after off the registry and also if successful at petitioning the court to change my name.
At what point did Florida go from probation for fondling children to a lifetime sentence for a mentally disabled individual who displayed pictures on his laptop of children being fondled & sexually abused
Admirable of this gentleman to do such a job with those who need it. It’s truly sad that society can’t see the efforts he has made and is continuing to make with society and those who need such services. The sheriff’s department is spineless in not being willing to stand up for him at this time publicly. Society in the state of Florida should really be ashamed of themselves at this point. Nearly 40 years after the fact. Ridiculous!
Of course, the sheriff’s department should have known better than put them in a picture which was going to be publicly released for all to see. Should have just kept it quiet and let him go about his business as he’s doing to serve a greater good in his mind and heart.
This volunteer position did not involve minors, did it? He was helping adults 35 years after his crime and 23 years after his probation was served. Another example of senseless moral outrage.
In Floriduh the favorite pass time is looking on the state registry and finding people to harass.
So much for the forgiving, loving, accepting Christian culture of Florida. Redemption and second chances anyone? NOT in Florida. Hypocrites. As an aside, I wonder if they are letting SO’s into shelters from the fires in California?