Raymond Martin gets life sentences
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Raymond Martin, the disgraced former sheriff of Gallatin County, was handed two life sentences plus 10 years in Benton Federal Court Wednesday morning by Judge J. Phil Gilbert for drug trafficking and witness tampering.
Gilbert said the harsh punishment will send a "clear and unmistakable message to persons who hold a public trust."
Martin was convicted by a jury Sept. 23 of 15 charges related to drug-trafficking and witness-tampering, including plots to kill two potential witnesses against him in relation to the drug charges. Evidence showed he systematically used his office to further his drug-trafficking operation in Gallatin County.
Gilbert said he is especially disappointed Martin involved his young son, Cody Martin, in the criminal enterprise by having him take part in a plot to kill a witness in the case. Gilbert said "words cannot describe how despicable an act it is to involve your own son." Cody Martin had to testify against his father at the trial in September.
"Animals protect their young better than you," Gilbert said.
"You represent the worst of humanity. You are a pathetic person and a sorry excuse for a human being for involving your son."
Gilbert began sentencing Martin by looking at the oath of office Martin took as Gallatin County sheriff.
"You took a false oath. You lied, not only to the people of Gallatin County, but to your fellow law enforcement officers ... you lied to your deputies, the state's attorney and to this court," Gilbert said.
Gilbert said after Martin violated his oath and began a drug enterprise, he became nothing more than a "common thug" who broke the laws he swore to uphold.
Law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard, Gilbert said. However, Gilbert said the case should not be seen as a black eye for law enforcement in Southern Illinois, but a case in which several law enforcement agencies came together to stamp out one bad apple.
"In all my years as a judge I have never seen a case where the evidence was so overwhelming," Gilbert said.
The judge said watching the case unfold in September was like watching an episode of the television shows "24" and "CSI" all rolled into one. The evidence left no doubt of Martin's guilt, Gilbert said. Gilbert told Martin he could have had Johnny Cochran and F. Lee Bailey as lawyers in addition to his attorney, John O'Gara, and the result still would have been the same.
Martin came from humble beginnings and rose through law enforcement to become sheriff at a young age. He had the world by the tail, Gilbert said, but threw it away due to greed, arrogance and abuse of power.
"I believe in your mind, your only regret is you got caught," Gilbert said