Burning ex-girlfriend with cigarette gets Martin 90 days

A man who held his ex-girlfriend prisoner, beating her with a ruler and burning her with cigarettes, will serve 90 days for his crimes.

The defendant, Billy Clarence Martin, 51, was ordered by Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to serve 90 days of a six-year sentence for aggravated assault and false imprisonment with the balance of his sentence to be served on probation once he has completed his jail time.

Martin was charged last year with false imprisonment and domestic assault for injuring his ex-girlfriend, Lydia Roberts, during an invasion of her home.

The victim told lawmen Martin would not let her leave her home, holding her against her will for two hours, and telling her he would kill her if she left him. Roberts said Martin was carrying a box cutter and threatened her as he physically stopped her from escaping.

Specifically, Roberts said Martin pushed her to the floor, injuring her tailbone plus he grabbed her arms, leaving bruises which were later photographed by officers. She also said he hit her on her legs with a ruler and burned her with his cigarette. All of the alleged incidents happened while the two were under a mutual restraining order, directing them to stay away from one another.

After the original incident, Roberts said Martin came back to the residence and stole a key to her door along with a cellphone.

Lawmen were unable to apprehended Martin following the initial report of the incident. However, he was later taken into custody at another residence where officers reported finding him hiding in a closet.

It was during his arrest, officers reported recovering evidence which supported Roberts’ version of events, finding him in possession of the key and cellphone taken from the Roberts home along with a box cutter.