photo by: Mackenzie Clark

At right, Frank J. Martinez, of Lawrence, listens to the judge during his preliminary hearing on Sept. 4, 2019, in Douglas County District Court. At left is Martinez's defense attorney, Angela Keck.

A 36-year-old Lawrence man charged with multiple sex crimes against a child has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and his defense attorney said she thought the case would be resolved through a plea agreement.

Frank J. Martinez is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, all off-grid level felonies, and two counts of indecent liberties with a child, both lower-level felonies, according to the complaint filed against him in Douglas County District Court.

According to an affidavit in the case, a girl told police that Martinez regularly groped her inner thighs and buttocks and brushed his hands over her chest while “spooning” and “cuddling” her. She reported that he also kissed her feet and put her toes in his mouth.

Allegations in affidavits have not been proved in court.

The alleged victim, now 16, told police the sexual abuse began when she was 12 and continued until she was 15, shortly before she reported it. She said all the touching occurred over her clothing, according to the affidavit.

The girl told police that although Martinez told her he would never hurt her, she was afraid.

A few days after the girl’s police interview, in mid-April, police recorded a phone call in which the girl confronted Martinez about the touching, according to the affidavit. He “failed to acknowledge or deny” the accusations and instead attempted to redirect the conversation, the affidavit says.

In court Wednesday morning, defense attorney Angela Keck told Judge Kay Huff that she thought the case could be resolved through a plea agreement. Details of what the plea could entail were not discussed in court.

Martinez’s next court appearance, for arraignment and a plea hearing, is set for Oct. 17.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has declined to release Martinez’s booking photo to the Journal-World.