All charges against a Canadian priest have been dropped in an American court.

On July 30, Will County State Attorney’s office dropped a charge of misdemeanour battery against Fr. Carlos Martin, a member of the Ottawa-based Companions of the Cross.

“The State has confirmed that Fr. Martins has never been charged with a crime, accused of a crime, accused of any allegations of impropriety with minors, nor subject to any form of canonical discipline as a priest,” the court order stated, before saying “this matter is dismissed.”

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“I am deeply grateful to all who offered their prayers and support during this time,” said Martins in a public statement. “I am thankful for the truth coming to light and look forward to resuming my ministry and continuing to preach the Gospel.”

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The charge stems from Nov. 21, 2024 during a nationwide tour of the relic of St. Jude Martins hosted at a Catholic school in Joliet, Ill., near Chicago. A girl claims Martins took a strand of hair from her and began flossing with it during his presentation. Her father later filed a complaint with police.

Following the allegation, Martins voluntarily withdrew from his pastoral ministry. The Companions’ Fr. Roger Vandenakker told Stella Maris Media that the order has “waited patiently for the court to make its determination” and seeing as it only learned of the ruling through Stella Maris’ inquiry, it is seeking patience “as we discern how to move forward concerning Fr. Carlos’ ministry.” 

According to a Nov. 25 letter from Burke Law, which represented Martins, describing its version of events around the Nov. 21 incident, around 200 students were present when Martins, who tends to make jokes about his own baldness as a conversation starter, commented to one of the older students with long hair that they both had "almost the same hairstyle," which drew laughs.

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"He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would 'floss my teeth with it.' Again, his comment was met with laughter. He then asked the student, 'Have you ever flossed with your hair?' Laughing, she shook her head, no. He then said, 'Well, you have the perfect length for it,' as he lifted up a lock from her shoulders to show her its length. She giggled along with the others.

"He was building rapport with the students. The student came home and told her father the story," Burke explained in the letter. The father "apparently, became infuriated by what he heard," called police who went to the relic veneration event and spoke with students, and left without further action.