May 6, 2015 at 4:10 p.m.
Sisco pleads no contest
Boyfriend of murder suspect agrees to cooperate with prosecution
Sisco pleads no contest
Ryan D. Sisco was charged April 30 with having sexual intercourse with Ashlee A. Martinson, a child age 16 or older. At that time, Sisco waived his right to an attorney and indicated he would like to resolve the matter. On Tuesday, he again appeared before Branch I Judge Patrick O'Melia, this time with attorney Mary Burns, and accepted a deal offered by Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek.
Schiek told O'Melia that he and Burns had agreed that if Sisco pled no contest or guilty to the charge, they would jointly recommend a deferred entry of judgment agreement to last 12 months.
"There are several conditions that he will be required to comply with as set forth in the appendix (of the plea agreement)," Schiek said. "Most importantly, as I'm sure your honor is aware, Ashlee Martinson is charged in Branch II with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, as well as false imprisonment charges. We may or may not need Mr. Sisco's testimony during any motion hearings, any evidentiary hearings and potentially at any jury trial. So those conditions are set forth in the appendix."
Martinson is accused of killing her mother and stepfather, Jennifer and Thomas Ayers, in their town of Piehl home March 7. The false imprisonment charges are for allegedly placing her three younger siblings in a bedroom and tying the door shut. She faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted of the homicide charges.
While the two were apprehended in Sisco's truck, he has not been charged with any crime in connection with the double murder.
The River News generally does not identify victims of sexual assault, however this case differs from other sexual assault cases in that the relationship between Martinson and Sisco has already been made public, there is no indication in the complaint that Martinson was forced to act against her will (in other words, the alleged violation is a technical one as Martinson is too young to consent) and there is significant public interest in the homicide case.
Schiek said Sisco reviewed the agreement with Burns, agreed to the terms, and signed it.
The speed in which the charge was resolved did prevent the district attorney's office from completing the necessary victim's rights packet, since Martinson is technically the victim in this incident, and as such had the right to submit a victim impact statement at Sisco's sentencing. Because Schiek knew the lack of the statement might be a concern to O'Melia, he had contacted Martinson's attorney, Thomas Wilmouth, about the matter.
"I informed him of the offer and what was expected of Mr. Sisco and that we weren't able to get that packet of information out to Miss Martinson," Schiek said. "He indicated to me that he didn't have a problem with that, that his information to his client would be that she not submit any information or fill out an impact statement because he wouldn't know what she would put in that and that actually it could be used in some manner, that there would be information in there that might go against her interests. I'm comfortable moving forward, but if your honor is not, we can still make it happen and just set this for another hearing."
"Under all the circumstances, I'm comfortable moving forward," O'Melia replied.
Sisco won't be subject the maximum penalty on the charge, nine months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000, unless he violates any term of the plea agreement during the 12 months.
"If I go along with that (the agreement) and you violate it on the 11th month and 28th day, we come back to court as if that agreement ever existed, and at that time I could give you the maximum," O'Melia said. "Do you understand that?"
"Yes, sir," Sisco replied.
Burns said that she spoke to Sisco a month ago and advised he might be charged with this offense.
"He is fully understanding of the consequences (of violating the agreement)," she said.
O'Melia accepted the no contest plea, but went along with the deferred entry of judgment. He set a review date of May 2, 2016 to see if Sisco has complied with all the terms of the agreement.
Sisco has been in the Oneida County Jail since he was transferred from the Lincoln County Jail in March. He was returned to Lincoln County after waiving extradition from Boone County, Indiana where he and Martinson were arrested following a nationwide manhunt on March 8. He was moved to Rhinelander so that detectives from the Oneida County Sheriff's Office could finish their investigation into the deaths of the Ayers couple.
Two members of the sheriff's office drove to Boone County on March 10 to question both Martinson and Sisco. The detective's report attached to the criminal complaint states that when questioned about his relationship with Martinson, Sisco acknowledged that the two had consensual sexual intercourse on three occasions in Rhinelander. The report states that Sisco told investigators that he had believed Martinson was over 18. It wasn't until he had a Facebook conversation with a person he believed to be Martinson's mother on March 7 that he learned she was only 17, the complaint states.
According to the report, Sisco showed the detectives the conversation on a computer. At that time, they also saw a transcript of a conversation between Martinson and Sisco dated Feb. 26 where Martinson allegedly told Sisco she was only 17.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.