Scott Martin pleads guilty to misdemeanor charge

MARQUETTE — An Ishpeming man accused of violating the Michigan Charitable Organization and Solicitation Act has made a guilty plea.

According to a press release from special prosecutor Karen Bahrman and attorney Karl Numinen, Scott Martin, 40, has pleaded guilty to larceny by conversion. That offense is a misdemeanor. A felony charge was dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.

Martin will receive a delay of sentence; once he completes his probation, the misdemeanor will also be dismissed. He will pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court.

Martin’s trial was scheduled to start next week in Marquette County Circuit Court, but the case will now be remanded back to District Court.

He created and sold T-shirts through his company, Martin Sports Apparel, in memory of the late Christopher “Bubba” Croley of Ishpeming, who died in 2012 when his family’s vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. Witnesses testified during earlier court proceedings that for every T-shirt sold, $10 would go to the Croley family. The family claimed it never received the money.