Federal prosecutors say a former southern Illinois sheriff awaiting re-sentencing in a drug and witness-tampering case was found with cocaine and prescription drugs in his jail cell.
In a court filing, the U.S. government says former Gallatin County Sheriff Raymond Martin was transferred from a federal prison to the Williamson County jail. They say that while in that Marion lockup, guards found the cocaine and pills. It isn't clear how Martin got the drugs or whether he'll face new charges. Martin's attorney John O'Gara says he'll respond soon to those claims when he files a response. Martin is scheduled for re-sentencing on Dec. 7.
Martin was convicted in 2010 after witnesses testified he was on duty when he supplied a drug dealer with marijuana pilfered from the department's evidence locker. Authorities alleged after Martin was jailed on drug counts, he plotted to have two potential witnesses assaulted and possibly killed. Neither was harmed.
