For Goochland Sheriff James L. Agnew and Lt. James Mann Friday was a triumphant return to the county. Less so for former resident Irvin Leroy “Chubby” Martin, who came back in shackles.

Martin, 46, was extradited from Van Buren, Ark. Friday by local authorities who flew on a Virginia Department of Corrections jet to get the prisoner after he waived extradition following his arrest last Sunday. 

Martin had been on the run for eight months after allegedly beating a Goochland woman unconscious in her home with a golf club.

Agnew and Mann flew to Fort Smith, Ark. Friday morning to pick up their prisoner who was wanted on charges of attempted capital murder, malicious wounding, robbery, breaking and entering and auto theft.

Martin was captured by Van Buren authorities less than 24 hours after he was featured on an episode of “America’s Most Wanted” airing the night before, producing more than 50 phone calls and e-mail tips linking the fugitive to Crawford County, Ark. near the Oklahoma border.

Martin was given a court-appointed attorney and did not ask for bond in Goochland County General District Court Monday before returning to a Henrico County jail. His next court date will be in Circuit Court on Oct. 23 to determine legal counsel.

Martin faces aggravated malicious wounding charges, which can carry a sentence of life in prison.

He faces numerous other charges in General District Court and has a court date of Nov. 5. 

Authorities say they are not sure why Martin fled to Arkansas, but confirmed that he had been working odd jobs in the area for months under an alias.

Van Buren police ultimately found Martin hiding in the back of a jeep in a service station, but Agnew said he told him that he’d planned to turn himself in to authorities after seeing his own segment on “America’s Most Wanted.”

“He said he watched the program for about 15 minutes — until about the time that his part was over,” said Agnew.

Agnew, who flew with Mann in a Virginia Department of Corrections jet to retrieve Martin after he waived extradition, described the prisoner as “very congenial.”
“We didn’t have any issues or problems,” the sheriff added. 

Mann, who had traveled to Washington, D.C. for the airing of the show last Saturday, said the calls came flooding in within minutes of Martin’s segment on “America’s Most Wanted.”

The lieutenant said they felt certain they had their man when one female caller described him as “polite but pushy,” which Mann said is “very much his demeanor.”

“Our hats off to ‘America’s Most Wanted,’ said Agnew. “They did a great job and we’re tickled pink. We had no idea it would be this quick of a turnaround.”

The search began eight months ago after Martin went missing after allegedly attacking 30-year-old Missy Riley on Feb. 5 and then stealing her van and some cash. He was working construction and renting a room in the Gum Spring area across the street from Riley at the time of the attack.

Martin was due in court the morning of the attack on separate charges of assaulting an ex-girlfriend, placing threatening phone calls and destruction of property.

Martin was spotted in the area in the days following the incident, but then vanished without a trace shortly thereafter.

Riley’s attack is thought to have stemmed from the sale of a horse that Martin once owned. He had talked with Riley on separate occasions about purchasing the horse back from her, but she had decided not to sell the animal, Riley told the Gazette in May.

“I didn’t like him and I should’ve known something was wrong from the way my dog acted,” she said.

In all, Martin was served 11 warrants upon arrival on Friday, five of them being felony charges.

“It’s been a long process but we’re delighted to have him in custody,” said Agnew on Friday after returning to the sheriff’s office with Martin. “I know a lot of women in that part of the county, in particular, are relieved.”