Six more defendants in the Henry County Sheriff's Office corruption scandal were in federal court in Roanoke today for sentencing. The score at day's end is two probations, one surprise continuation and prison terms of 30, 33 and 57 months -- the last the highest penalty yet handed down in a case that involves 20 defendants and charges of racketeering, drug sales and evidence theft by law enforcement officers and others.

The 57-month prison term went to a former state probation officer Carlton Arnez Riley, who had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it.

U.S. District Judge James Turk said he just couldn’t imagine why a probation officer would attempt to distribute cocaine, knowing the harm it would do. “His situation is worse than the normal person would be because of his position as a probation officer,” Turk said. “If he were a user of drugs, I’d be more sympathetic."

At his plea sentencing in March, Riley admitted to buying what he thought was cocaine from a police informant. Court testimony has established that Riley wasn’t using the cocaine, just trying to sell it.

Telling him he didn't have to answer, Turk asked Riley why he had done it.

“I was just stupid," Riley said. "I’m sorry, sir.”

Three former sheriff's deputies were also sentenced today.

Former deputy Walter R. Hairston, who had pleaded guilty to racketeering, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Citing Hairston’s community involvement, which included volunteering to preserve a historic site and being named coach of the year for his work with a girls track team, U.S. District Judge James Turk went below federal sentencing guidelines that called for 33 to 41 months. “I think you’re entitled to a little credit for your activities and the person you are,” Turk said.

Hairston and his attorney said the deputy went astray in the aftermath of a bitter divorce. According to previous court testimony, Hairston, who was a canine handler for the department, took drugs intended for dog training purposes and gave them to another deputy to sell. Today, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bondurant said Hairston took part in transactions involving cocaine, marijuana and steroids. Hairston maintained his involvement was limited to once carrying less than an ounce of cocaine between two deputies who were selling the drug.

“I allowed myself to be influenced and led in the wrong direction,” Hairston said. “I blame no one but myself.”

Former deputy Bradley Scott Martin was sentenced to 33 months in prison and fined $5,000. He'd pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiring to distribute ketamine and steroids.

Martin said his use of anabolic steroids had led him into trouble. "I made friends with individuals who dealt not only in steroids but in other drugs as well," he said before sentencing. Like the other defendants, he apologized to his family and to Henry County residents, and he added an additional apology to the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.

"A great deal of effort has been spent cleaning up the mess I caused," Martin said.

A Henry County native, Martin said he took responsibility for his actions and would work to regain his reputation and a place in the community. He told Turk he recently married, becoming the father to his wife's 2-year-old daughter, and would never break the law again. He cited the quote, "Failure is only the opportunity to intelligently begin again."

"Good luck to you. You'll be out before you know it," the judge told him.

Martin is not related to fellow defendant and former deputy Patrick David Martin, who was sentenced last week to three months in prison for possessing a stolen firearm.

Retired deputy Cornelia Bryant Cox, who pleaded guilty to making a false statement to an investigator, was sentenced to 24 months probation. Bondurant praised Cox for cooperating fully and said she was the most forthcoming of all the defendants in the case.

At her plea hearing in January, Cox admitted that she had lied about stealing a few hundred dollars from the evidence room at the sheriff's office.

Kandy D. Hubbard Deshazo, a former postal worker who pleaded guilty to making a false statement, also was sentenced to 24 months probation. She had been accused of falsifying a post office box application, allowing defendant James Alden Vaught and others to get drugs delivered there. In tearful testimony this morning, she claimed she didn't know the box was going to be used for drug deliveries.

"I simply trusted someone I shouldn't have trusted," she said.

One of the day's hearings ended abruptly as Turk called the attorneys to the bench, then announced there was a joint motion to continue the case.

Defendant Mark Anthony Roberson had been in the midst of testifying about the actions that led to his guilty plea to a charge of possessing a gun with an obliterated serial number. The uncle to defendant and former deputy Jonathan K. Roberson -- who is now on a pretrial diversion agreement that in a year could clear his charge of possessing the same illegal gun -- Mark Roberson explained that he bought the firearm at an estate sale, discovered it had no serial number and knew he should have given it to police for disposal, not for use by different officers.

A former church deacon who plays saxophone with several church choirs, Roberson said he accepted responsibility for his actions, bore no animosity toward procescutors and was deeply sorry for embarrassing his family, many of whom were in the courtroom.

"I am pretty much set being a law-abiding citizen," he told Turk. "I will never put myself in this position again."

After the hearings wrapped up, Bondurant said prolonging Roberson's case would give prosecutors more time to consider it. He declined further comment on the continuance.


The Henry County case in a nutshell:

• The case stems largely from a federal investigation based in Philadelphia into an international network of on-line prescription drug sales.
• The 20 Henry County defendants include former Sheriff Frank Cassell and a dozen of his officers.
• 17 defendants have pleaded guilty, two have been placed on pretrial diversion agreements that will clear their charges after a year of good behavior, and one is awaiting a jury trial.