A Merrill man who has been serving time in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for convictions stemming from sex offenses is set to be released back into the community next Tuesday, according to a release from the Merrill Police Department.

“Sex Offenders have always resided within our communities. It was not until the WI Sex Offender Registry and Community Notification Law was enacted that law enforcement was able to share this information with the community,” said MPD Chief Ned Seubert.

Douglas Marten will be released back to Merrill/Lincoln County, which was his county of residence at time of conviction. Marten will initially be housed at a DOC supervised temporary living placement. He will remain on supervision with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections until Oct. 2, 2022.

Upon release, Marten will be on intensive supervision, and will be subject to the Department of Corrections Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP) and Global Positioning System (GPS). He will be referred for polygraph examination within six months of release from prison and at regular intervals throughout his supervision term as determined by DOC.

Seubert said these systems provide the DOC staff with additional tools of supervision beyond the standard requirements that further restrict Mr. Marten’s movement and provide valuable information to the supervising agent and law enforcement on his activities and whereabouts within the community.

“Active GPS technology allows DOC to access real time information on Mr. Marten’s location and create exclusion zones for protected areas. Should significant violations occur, enhanced apprehension procedures are implemented to ensure custody and investigation,” he said in the release.

On May 8, 1987, Marten was convicted of three counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault and two counts of False Imprisonment. In the first case, Marten forcibly sexually assaulted an adult female acquaintance while in the second he attempted to grab an adult female stranger on the side of the road with the intent of forcing her into his vehicle.

In August of 1982, Marten was convicted of 3rd Degree Sexual Assault in Rusk County where he forcibly sexually assaulted an adult female acquaintance. In August of 1976, he was convicted of 1st Degree Sexual Assault in Sawyer County where he and an acquaintance forcibly sexually assaulted a 17 year old stranger.

Marten is subject to lifetime GPS monitoring and be required to register with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry Program for life. The WI Sex Offender Registry can be located at www.widocoffenders.org.