VALPARAISO INDIANA
The Valparaiso High School student arrested and charged last month with dealing her prescription Adderall to other students is a child in an adult’s body and is “not a threat to society,” her attorney said during a court appearance Tuesday morning. Alina Marthakis, 18, of Valparaiso, has an IQ of 75, the mental capacity of a 12- or 13-year—old and is “borderline mentally retarded,” said her attorney, Matt LaTulip. LaTulip said his client, although 18 years old, is only ajunior at high school. He said by some measures she is a juvenile facing an adult charge. Marthakis, a Romanian citizen who was adopted at age 10, appeared before Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper wearing red Porter County Jail clothing. Her bond was reduced to $1,500 so her adoptive parents in Valparaiso could bond her out of jail. As a condition of her bond being lowered, Harper required Marthakis to surrender her passport to the court while the case against her is pending. Marthakis, who has learned the English language since being adopted, is in this country on a green card.
Marthakis, in addition to her mental challenges, has a hearing disability, suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder, suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, LaTulip said. The latter disorder is a result of abuse she suffered while in a Romanian orphanage, LaTulip said. Marthakis was arrested on May 22 and charged with selling her Adderall pills, which are commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, to other students during a 10-day period. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charge of dealing a controlled substance.
Posted in Local on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 12:00 am