Staff photo by Dean Shalhoup Harvey Martel, the former Merrimack man who was denied his motion Monday to reduce the 5-10 year prison term he's serving for sexually assaulting his daughter in 2002, appeared via video conference from prison.

NASHUA – Although former Merrimack resident Harvey Martel now seems to some as a State Prison inmate “who has invested himself in his rehabilitation” and appears to be sincere in his remorse, Judge Charles Temple on Monday denied Martel’s request for early release, citing the “horrific crime” that sent him to prison in 2014.

Martel, who was sentenced to 5-10 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault, must serve at least the minimum sentence, and possibly be put on supervised release when the term is complete. He also must register as a sex offender for life.

“I felt at the time that this is a reasonable, fair and just sentence,” Temple told Martel, who appeared at the hearing via video conference from State Prison.

“And today, I still feel it’s a reasonable, fair and just sentence.”

Nearly 20 people, many of them members of the extended Martel family, were present for the roughly 40-minute proceeding. Several either addressed the court or had statements read on their behalf.

Among those who spoke was Molly Martel, the victim of the November 2002 sexual assault for which her father was tried and convicted in 2014.

A stellar athlete who excelled as a softball pitcher as a pre-teen through her career at Merrimack High, Martel’s life began to spiral downward after the assault, according to family members, prosecutors and her attorneys.

All agree the assault played a role in that descent, which culminated in a violent episode in Manchester that ended with Martel being charged with stabbing a woman to death. This resulted in a November 2011 second-degree murder conviction for Molly Martel.

She is currently serving a term of 20-40 years in the State Prison for Women, and was transported to the Nashua court for Monday’s hearing.

Addressing her father, Molly Martel recalled the “pain and suffering you put me through … ,” and emphasized she has no desire to be in contact with him.

Her mother, Deb Martel, also addressed the court, but first read aloud a statement from Molly’s sister.

“I have not talked to my father since the day he was convicted of sexually assaulting my sister Molly,” she said. “When Molly was sexually abused, her personality and the way she lived life changed.

“She was a stellar athlete with a promising future ahead of her, and (Harvey Martel) selfishly took that away from her,” Molly’s sister wrote, adding that once he was convicted, her sister “seemed to be happier.”

Deb Martel urged Temple to “please consider the nature of the crime, and the impact it’s had on Molly and our family.”

She said the family wants “no contact whatsoever” with him, and that “we don’t consider Harvey part of our family.”

First Assistant County Attorney Kent Smith, who recalled first meeting Molly Martel in 2005 shortly after she accused her father of assaulting her, shared his belief that the assault had a profound effect on her.

“But for this, Molly wouldn’t be sitting here next to me with handcuffs on,” Smith said, gesturing toward Martel.

Granted his request to address the court, Harvey Martel told his daughter that he “had no right to put you in that position … you must have been so confused.

“You did nothing wrong. You were not responsible for my actions. It was all my fault … I ruined your life and your dreams,” Martel continued.

He said that while he “cannot change what I’ve done to you,” he hopes that his daughter “will once again return to being the loving young woman (who) everyone knows … someone who sees what she wants, and has the desire to go after her dream.”

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, or, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.