Monday, June 27, 2011

Accused cancer faker pleads not guilty

Julie Jane Martin

AURORA | An Oregon woman accused of faking cancer and swindling a local charity out of more than $10,000 pleaded not guilty to felony theft Monday.

Julie Jane Martin, 38, is scheduled to go on trial in November, according to a spokeswoman for the Arapahoe County district attorney.

Police say Martin lied to officials from the Aurora charity Cops Fighting Cancer about being sick for more than a year, bilking the organization for air travel, hotel stays and other expenses.

At a court hearing in February, Martin’s lawyer said the Oregon woman had gone deaf since being charged last summer. A sign language interpreter was in the courtroom for Martin during that hearing, translating the precedings for her.

Prosecutors, however, were dubious of Martin’s claim of deafness, citing the allegations that she previously faked a terminal illness and asked that Martin provide documentation about her scheduled surgery.

Martin is currently free on bond. 

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