Honk News (Joliet, MI) – A priest in Michigan faces battery charges following allegations from police that he used a teenage girl’s hair to floss his teeth.
In November, an incident reportedly took place in Joliet, Illinois, during a presentation by Carlos Martins, 50, at Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, which was part of his tour showcasing relics of St. Jude. During discussions with Joliet law enforcement, high school students present reported that they saw Martins supposedly mimicking the act of “flossing” his teeth using one girl’s hair.
The girl allegedly informed her father that Martins was seated behind her and made a “growling” sound. Martins, via his legal representative, refuted the claims.
Martins, recognized for his involvement in exorcisms and as the host of a podcast titled The Exorcist Files, faced formal charges on January 22 after an inquiry into the purported event that occurred on November 21. He has been released and is required to attend court in Joliet on February 24.
As stated by his lawyer Marcella Burke, Martins was “building rapport” with the students and sharing jokes. In a detailed three-page letter addressed to the Catholic news source The Pillar, which was acquired by Stella Maris Media — an independent organization focused on exposing corruption within the Catholic Church — Burke remarked that Martins is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter.”
The legal document indicated that Martins purportedly “made physical contact” with the girl “and placed the hair of [the girl] in his mouth.” A fellow student, a friend of the girl involved in the hair incident, allegedly informed authorities during her questioning that Martins “sat down behind them and began to make growling noises.”
Image: Carlos Martins (Joliet Police Department)
The report from law enforcement indicated that there were no additional witnesses to this purported conduct.
Upon hearing about the exchange from his daughter, the father was said to be “infuriated,” as reported by Burke, and subsequently contacted the police. They arrived during a different segment of the relic tour to question students regarding their observations. Following the interviews, no arrests occurred. The girl’s father was clearly not satisfied, as he contacted the police once more, demanding that Martins face battery charges.
The Joliet Police Department has referred the case to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has now sanctioned a misdemeanor charge of battery against Martins. A fine of $100 will be imposed as a penalty. Martins, via Burke, pledged to contest the “outrageous and baseless accusations.”
The Archdiocese of Detroit has revoked his status as a priest.
