Charges are filed accusing a former local TV executive director for diverting more than $35,000 in funds for personal purchases.

According to the criminal complaint, Mark Eric Martinez, 58, of Grant, is charged with one felony count of theft for diverting corporate property.

Prosecutors allege the conduct occurred shortly after Martinez stopped serving as the executive director of the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission, a role he held from January 2017 through the end of 2023.

Investigators say concerns surfaced after the organization’s new interim executive director reported suspected financial irregularities to Cottage Grove police in July 2024. During follow-up meetings, officials reviewed credit card activity tied to an account Martinez opened during his tenure. The card was intended for organizational use and governed by written policies requiring documentation for all purchases and written approval for expenses exceeding specific thresholds.