ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – A Roanoke man was sentenced on Monday morning in connection to the death of his girlfriend, Meagan Martin in 2025.
The defendant, 46-year-old Joshua Robert Presley, changed his plea to no contest on Monday, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison, for the first-degree murder of his then girlfriend Martin. He must serve 32 years with credit for time already served while awaiting trial.
A no contest plea means Presley did not admit guilt but accepted conviction and sentencing. The judge made sure Presley knew it is similar to a guilty plea.
“As far as the laws would allowed justice was served but this type of thing needs to be stopped and our laws need to be more strict for violent criminals,” said Meagan’s Martin’s, after the hearing…