Decatur man sentenced to prison after unlawful restraint plea

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A Decatur man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful restraint in a case involving an underage girl, according to court records.

George Martin, 53, pleaded guilty to the amended felony charge as part of a plea agreement. Four other counts were dismissed under the agreement.

Martin will receive credit for time spent in custody from May 20 through Nov. 9, 2026. His sentence will be followed by six months of mandatory supervised release. The court also told Martin he is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

According to a sworn police statement, the girl said Martin, a neighbor, gave her and her friends a ride home from a church day camp. She told police that after her friends were dropped off, Martin drove her to a shopping center, locked her in his truck and offered her money for sex. She also alleged that he touched and threatened her.

The girl told police she went into a store and reported that Martin had touched her. Police said store surveillance video showed Martin touching her.

According to the sworn statement, Martin acknowledged giving the girl a ride and knowing she was underage, but denied touching her. He was arrested May 20.

Martin had previously pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated criminal sexual abuse, kidnapping and indecent solicitation. The plea agreement dismissed counts I through IV; Martin pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint, not those charges.