Former Batavia firefighter, train museum owner, accused of sexual assault in Medina
Submitted by Howard Owens on August 17, 2009 - 11:57am
A former Batavia firefighter who operates a train museum in Medina is accused of sexually assaulting a 27-year-old woman Friday at the museum and may have installed a videotaping system in the building.
Martin Phelps, 67, is accused assaulting the woman at 4:30 p.m.. Medina police have also removed an "extensive" videotaping system from the building.
Phelps bought the museum in 1991 and opened it in 1997 after spending six years remodeling the location.
He was remanded to Orleans County Jail on $5,000 bail.
(Source, the Batavia Daily News)
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August 17, 2009 - 4:20pm
#2
Very disturbing. I remember going to his museum YEARS ago (I think he was still in the FD at that time ~ back when he was just getting the train thing started.) He was a friend of my step-father. I know, "innocent until proven guilty." Just shaking my head here. In this day & age, NOTHING surprises me anymore.
August 17, 2009 - 6:40pm
#3
YES VERY DISTURBING and also YES, "Innocent until proven guilty!" Our family recently took a trip to the museum this summer and I will be following this story very closely! Many out of state visitors come to the museum and may have no idea if any alledged "extensive" videotaping may have taken place! Howard, please let me know if you have any new breaking stories here!!!
August 17, 2009 - 8:58pm
#4
I remember Marty going berzerk a few years back when they were going to close down the museum or something to that effect-it was on the local news stations-I'm thinking it was 4-5 years ago.Are they sure it wasn't surveillance video cameras?
