Man sentenced for break-ins, arson, and escape attempt in Duluth area

A judge imposed the maximum 189-month prison term on Gideon Joseph Martin, closing a case that tied together a deputy strangling, a garage fire, church vandalism and a Christmas Day home invasion across Duluth, Hermantown and Rice Lake.

Shawn B. Reed sentenced Martin on April 10 in St. Louis County District Court in Duluth after a February jury verdict on first-degree assault and related charges. Martin was also convicted of obstructing the legal process, fourth-degree assault and fleeing a peace officer, and those sentences will run at the same time as the assault term. County Attorney Kim Maki said the punishment sent a clear message that violent and unlawful behavior would be met with serious consequences, and that the office remains committed to protecting the community and supporting victims.

The assault conviction came from a May 26, 2025, call near Hermantown Road for an unwanted person. A St. Louis County deputy gave Martin a ride, prosecutors said, but Martin then climbed on top of the deputy and choked him from behind until the deputy nearly lost consciousness. Martin fled and spent about four hours in a tree before officers arrested him.

The court also heard about a string of earlier episodes that showed a broader pattern of destructive behavior. On Christmas Day 2022, Martin broke into an occupied home and later tried to explain it away by saying he had the wrong address and thought a friend was dying inside. In July 2023, after destroying a large statue of St. Mary at a Catholic church and climbing a 20-foot altar ladder, he kicked a hole in a hospital room wall during an escape attempt, saying he was following a Bible passage he had read.

Last May, Martin burned down a Hermantown garage, destroying four cherished classic cars owned by a family. Three victims addressed the court at sentencing and described how the crimes had damaged their sense of safety and security. The sentence marked the end of the criminal case, but for the people whose homes, property and peace of mind were damaged, the cost of Martin’s conduct will linger long after the prison door closes.