In 2020, Lt. Justin Martinez was named in a lawsuit filed by inmate Jason Harter, who alleged that Martinez, along with other jail staff, failed to protect him from a violent attack by another inmate, Alan Stephen. Harter had previously informed jail staff, including Martinez, about threats from Stephen and requested not to be housed in the same section. Despite these warnings, Harter was placed in proximity to Stephen, leading to a brutal assault that resulted in serious injuries. The lawsuit claims that Martinez and his colleagues deliberately failed to protect Harter, violating his civil rights. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for Colorado in July 2022 and is ongoing. ([chaffeecountytimes.com](https://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/news/beaten-prisoner-files-lawsuit-against-county-jailers/article_9932ff9a-4b0a-11ed-8c43-a7aff8de4bf8.html?utm_source=openai))
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