First District Court Judge Fred Gibler this morning sentenced Sandra Kay Martinson to 90 days in the Kootenai County Jail and ordered her to make restitution for her embezzling of over $100,000 from Kootenai County during her employment as Deputy Kootenai County Clerk. She will be required to pay $1,000 per month until she has made restitution of $49,075 to Kootenai County and the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP). In addition, she will serve 5 years supervised probation.
Bonner County prosecuting attorney Louis Marshall had asked the judge to sentence Martinson to 120 days in the county jail. Martinson could have been sentenced to 4 years fixed state prison time and up to an additional 6 years indeterminate state prison time.
In sentencing Martinson, Judge Gibler noted that while she had no criminal record, her embezzlement covering a period of 10 years had been a systematic scheme and not a single impulsive act. He also observed it was a “significant betrayal of public trust.” Judge Gibler declined to withhold judgement, saying that because Martinson had been a public employee, he intended the sentence to send a message to others.
Martinson, who will begin serving her jail sentence this Thursday, is afflicted with multiple sclerosis and will be allowed to leave jail to receive necessary treatments.
“It is important to note that the County Clerk, of all the elected officials, has the most diverse tasks to manage. From the budget process to staffing the District Court and the judges secretaries to the recorders office and elections, it is a very tough job.”
How then did Mr English find time for computer games and “Tote a Vote” during the time he was on the taxpayers payroll?
Comment by concerned citizen — November 4, 2011 @ 10:48 am
CC, Dan English had a very experienced staff and retained them when they could have gone elsewhere for much more money, like I did when I accepted the city treasurer position at CDA. As for how Dan spent his time, whenever I was in his office he was fully engaged in the business of running the most complex set of departments at the county. I know he’s been truly troubled by what his Chief Deputy did, as we all are, and left office with that as a big regret.
Anyway, it’s time to move on, while learning the lessons from our recent past.
Comment by JohnA — November 4, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
The problem is, it is “business as usual” and those that NEED to learn the lesson aren’t.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 4, 2011 @ 1:24 pm
Yep, from a good paying job to the gravy train that is the CDA Unionized Party. And you brag about that. Remember John, every dime you made was taken by force from taxpayers. Have you no shame?
Comment by justinian — November 4, 2011 @ 7:53 pm
I don’t know you, Justinian, because you hide by the cowardice of your anonymity, but I worked very hard for my pay, even if it was from public funds. I’ll match my achievements over the last 25 years with anything you might have attempted. But, then, you’d have to reveal something of worth that might actually reveal who you are. So, that’s not going to happen. It is you who is without shame.
Comment by JohnA — November 4, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
Yawn.
Comment by justinian — November 4, 2011 @ 10:18 pm