Chayne Marten

The Maui News

Former Republican state House candidate Chayne Marten, who is facing sexual assault charges, was released from jail last week on a $650,000 bail bond secured by property on Kauai, according to court records.

Marten, 64, of Napili was arrested in October on an indictment charging him with five counts of first-degree sexual assault, three counts of third-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After Marten’s earlier requests to have his bail reduced were denied, his attorney Hayden Aluli last month asked the court to approve the bail bond secured by property owned by Marten and his wife, Lynette, in Moloaa, Kauai.

According to the couple’s declarations filed in court, there is a $565,100 balance on a $900,000 mortgage on the property. While the assessed value of the property is $540,000, a real estate appraiser’s report estimated its market value at $1.95 million in April 2017, according to the declarations.

Based on the appraiser’s report, the Martens’ equity in the property “appears to be around $1,384,900,” the declarations say.

The 0.7-acre property is a vacation rental, which Marten has said he managed.

Under state law, one requirement to have bail secured by a deed for property is that the unencumbered interest in the property be at least double the amount of the bail bond.

During a hearing April 27, 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen granted the defense request to approve the bail bond for Marten. The defense was required to file other documents and prepare the order releasing Marten.

Records show the order was filed, and Marten was released Friday from the Maui Community Correctional Center.

His trial is set for Oct. 23 on the charges alleging sexual contact and penetration of a girl from December 2007 to December 2010, while she was between ages 7 and 10. The girl is related to Marten.

As part of his release, Marten was ordered to report for supervision, not consume alcohol or illegal drugs, and submit to random drug testing if ordered. He also was ordered to have no contact with the girl.

In the general election last year, Marten ran for the state House District 10 seat (West Maui, Maalaea, north Kihei), losing to incumbent Rep. Angus McKelvey, a Democrat.

McKelvey received 4,573 votes to Marten’s 1,643.