Bristol County man granted parole with conditions after killing another man in Plymouth County

A Bristol County man has been granted parole with certain conditions after being incarcerated for killing another man in Plymouth County.

According to the Parole Board, on April 1, 2009, in Plymouth Superior Court, James Bing pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Jody Martyniak and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

On January 19, 2006, 19-year-old James Bing of Easton stabbed 27-year-old Jody Martyniak of Raynham to death. At approximately 1:53 a.m., Bridgewater police were dispatched to Our Place Saloon. Upon arrival, responding officers saw Martyniak on the ground, bleeding badly from stab wounds to the head and chest. Martyniak was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Bridgewater police also received a report of a man with cut fingers at the Cumberland Farms on Main Street. Upon arrival, they found two males standing in front of the store. One of the men, identified as James Bing, approached police. He stated that he had a bad cut and that one of his fingers had been cut off. When the officers asked what happened, Bing stated, “I was shanked by some white guy.” The other man, Benjamin Dreyer, claimed, “I was not near him and did not see anything.” Both men appeared apprehensive. When Massachusetts State Police troopers arrived, a witness to the stabbing identified James Bing and Benjamin Dreyer as the men he saw fighting with the victim. Officers searching the crime scene discovered a bloody knife lying on an air conditioning unit. Blood droplets were traced from the victim’s body to the location of the knife, and then to the sidewalk near where the suspects had been seen. Following an investigation, Dreyer and Bing were arrested and charged with murder.

Bing was denied parole after an initial hearing in 2020, however, in a ruling released this month, the Board approved his parole with conditions.

The Board took into consideration Bing’s institutional behavior, as well as his participation in available work, educational, and treatment programs during the period of his incarceration. The Board also considered a risk and needs assessment and whether risk reduction programs could effectively minimize Bing’s risk of recidivism.

Bing has been incarcerated for 18 years. Since the last hearing, Bing presented a credible version of the offense and recognized how his previous version negatively impacted the victim’s family and his progress in his rehabilitation, according to the Board. Bing has continued to pursue his education and has completed 23 college credits towards an associate degree. He also pursued further rehabilitative programs that addressed substance misuse, violence reduction, victim empathy, emotional growth and has achieved his barber’s license. The Board went on to say that Bing has matured, demonstrated a commitment to self-development, and has a strong support system to assist him with positive re-entry. Bing has employment opportunities and intends to pursue his education. This was Bing’s first incarceration.

Special conditions for Bing’s parole include: Approve home plans before release after 120 days in lower security; Waive work for 2 weeks; Curfew must be at home between 10PM and 6AM or at Parole Officer’s discretion; Electronic monitoring at Parole Officer’s discretion; Supervise for drugs, testing in accordance with Agency policy; Supervise for liquor abstinence, testing in accordance with Agency policy; Report to assigned MA Parole Office on day of release; No contact with victim’s family; Must have substance abuse evaluation and must comply with recommended treatment plan; Must have mental health counseling for transition purposes.