Arrested Hawaii Official Accused of Lying About Education

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The head of training at the Hawaii Department of Public Safety was arrested on that she lied about her educational background.

Public Training Officer J. Marte Martinez was arrested Thursday on charges of perjury, tampering with a government record and unsworn falsification to authorities.

Reached by phone Friday, Martinez said her attorney advised not to speak about the.

“She’s looking forward to her day in court,” said her attorney, Myles Breiner. “She’s looking forward to defending herself against these.”

A complaint filed in court said Martinez made false statements about her educational background while testifying under oath before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

The alleged false statements included having a liberal arts degree from Northern Virginia University.

There doesn’t appear to be a university with that name. The court document also mentions University of Northern Virginia, which Virginia officials ordered to shut down in 2013. According to the school’s website, it’s now located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

An email sent to the school was not immediately answered Friday.

Martinez is also accused of submitting a transcript “purported to be from the Southern Oregon University, which was falsely made, completed, or altered,” the complaint said.

A Southern Oregon spokesperson directed The Associated Press to submit a public records request for any possible records for Martinez. The school didn’t immediately answer a request The Associated Press submitted Friday.

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