Judge O’Neill said he arrived at his ruling based on Martin’s lack of a prior criminal record as well as his “obvious” inability to re-commit the same crime, given that he will never be employed as a teacher or Superintendent again, as his licenses have been suspended. Martin’s legal counsel said that Martin has been punished enough for his actions by their effect on his children and family, his inability to educate, and his current employment “making five hundred dollars a week as a laborer,” Martin’s attorney said.

Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson asked the judge to consider a fitting punishment for Martin’s actions, saying the associated guilt, shame, and loss of employment were “direct consequences” of Martin’s actions, and that formal punishment was necessary given Martin’s abuse of trust through his position.

During the sentencing, Martin’s attorney brought forth Bruce Jones, coordinator of Maryhaven, a Columbus gambling treatment center. During his testimony, Jones said Martin was diagnosed as a “pathological gambler,” but noted that Martin had successfully completed all recommended steps in the past eight months of treatment. Jones said Martin was referred to him in December of 2014 by The Ohio State University’s Harding Hospital, where Martin had been an inpatient for gambling disorders and associated depression. When asked by Martin’s attorney if Martin had been suicidal in that time period, Jones replied: “That’s what led him there to OSU Harding.”

Prosuctor Wilson told the judge to consider that Martin’s entry into treatment and inpatient care came after “he was caught,” to which Martin’s counsel replied that most severe gamblers do not seek treatment until they have become too immersed in the addiction.

Tecumseh Local Schools Board President Dan Studebaker read a statement on behalf of the faculty and staff members in the district who had been blamed for many of Martin’s thefts.

“There are many individuals who have been personally victimized by Mr. Martin’s criminal actions in our district,” Studebaker said. “We had 25 staff members who were personally affected by his actions. These individuals had checks forged in their name, were directed by Mr. Martin to cash checks written to them, or withdraw money from support group accounts, and told to give money to Mr. Martin for technology that was not purchased. These individuals will have lasting effects from the personal and individual actions taken by the former Superintendent. He put these individuals in legal jeopardy by his actions,” said Studebaker.

“I realize I deeply regret the adverse effects it has had on my family, community, and Tecumseh Local Schools’ staff and students,” Martin said, noting that the stress it has caused to his wife and two children was the result of his actions. He said that his wife and children spent Christmas alone last year, as he was in an inpatient care facility.

Judge O’Neill added that more than $44,000 of Martin’s retirement funds be withheld as restitution, along with nearly $4,000 in cash seized by Clark County deputies when Martin was initially investigated. That cash amount will be paid back to the Sherry Street Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Park Layne PTO, as well as New Carlisle Direct Sales—all organizations affected by Martin’s theft.

After the sentencing, Wilson asked O’Neill to consider applying an additional sanction on Martin’s probation regarding the nearly $10,000 cost of the state audit. Judge O’Neill agreed, and Martin is also ordered to pay back the $9,600 amount for the state audit.

After the sentencing, Assistant Superintendent Paula Crew told the New Carlisle News that she believed the sentence to be “absolutely fair.”

“It’s absolutely wonderful for our students to know, and for us to convey to them, that there are consequences when you choose to break the law,” said Crew.

The Tecumseh Local Board of Education released a statement that reads:

Tecumseh Local Schools would like to extend our appreciation to Sheriff Kelly, Chief Wright, along with the personnel in their department who led an effective and thorough investigation, and the individuals from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. We would also like to thank the individuals from State Auditor Yost’s Office for conducting a complete and thorough audit. We appreciate the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for their diligence in seeking an appropriate criminal consequence to fit the multiple felonies Mr. Martin pled guilty to in April.

It has been an incredibly laborious nine months for the staff and those personally affected by Mr. Martin’s criminal actions. It is with immense relief that we are finally able to have closure on this ordeal. We hope our community members and stakeholders will continue to support our district. Tecumseh Local Schools has an incredible staff of individuals working hard every day on behalf of our students.

“The Tecumseh Education Foundation is excited to get back the money that Brad Martin stole from the Sherry Street Scholarship fund” said Kevin Harmon, President of the Tecumseh Education Foundation. “We very much appreciate all of the Tecumseh staff that contribute to her fund and have taken steps to better track donated money.”
“In my short amount of time in the district, I have heard and sensed everyone’s disappointment and hurt regarding what happened last year” said current Tecumseh Superintendent Norm Glismann, adding that “people verbalize that Tecumseh is a great district with terrific students and outstanding employees, and I have witnessed and experienced that. Everyone is ready to put this incident in the past and move forward in a new and positive direction.”

Martin’s jail term begins immediately.