SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A former Hartford chiropractor is behind bars for child pornography.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Minnehaha County Judge Sandra Hoglund Hanson sentenced 32-year-old Joel Martens to 10 years in prison.
In addition to child pornography, Martens pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual contact with a child by a person in authority. The judge gave him suspended sentences for those crimes, so he won’t have to serve additional time as he stays out of trouble.
In court Tuesday, the judge heard from Martens and his victim, who was also his patient. We’ll have details from the courtroom on KELOLAND News at 6 and online.
KELOLAND News first told you about Martens in July 2023, when he was arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a 16-year-old in 2021 at Lemke’s Fitness and Training in Hartford.
According to court documents, that’s where he first used his hands to penetrate her during her workout. The two later had sex at the ChiroSport clinic in Hartford. Court documents say it happened more than 100 times during appointments and twice at Martens’ home.
