Source:  Lexington HeraldLeader 
Pubdate: June 13, 1997
Contact: 16062313454 

      EXSHERIFF SENTENCED TO
      YEAR IN DRUG CASE 

      PIKEVILLE  A former Eastern Kentucky sheriff was sentenced
      yesterday to a year and a day behind bars for failing to report
      drug activity in his own family. 

      U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood said former Breathitt County
      Sheriff Ray Clemons violated a public trust by not turning his
      daughter and soninlaw in. Hood said he sympathized with a
      father in such a situation, but noted that Clemons took a solemn
      oath to uphold the law. 

      "This has aspects of a crime where you're put between a crack
      and a hard place," Hood said. "You swore to uphold the law.
      That's when the hard choices come. Unfortunately, when the hard
      choice came, you forgot about your role as sheriff and maintained
      the role of father. That's not what you were paid to do. That's not
      what you swore to do." 

      Clemons was convicted in March of misprision of a felony for not
      reporting the marijuana trafficking by Crystal and Michael
      Southwood. He was acquitted of two counts of lying to the FBI
      about his knowledge of drug activities in the county. 

      Clemons resigned in May after his motion for a new trial was
      denied. Hood said he would grant bond while Clemons appeals
      his conviction. 

      The Southwoods pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute
      marijuana. They denied that the sheriff knew anything about their
      activities. 

      Clemons, 48, is the third Breathitt County law officer convicted of
      a federal drug crime since 1995. 

      Hood could have given Clemons up to 18 months and a $10,000
      fine. Receiving a sentence of more than a year means Clemons is
      eligible for release after serving 85 percent of his sentence. 

      Defense attorney Ned Pillersdorf had pleaded for leniency. He
      said Clemons' daughter is under house arrest with a newborn
      baby, and her husband is in jail. He asked Hood to allow Clemons
      to remain free because he was the only breadwinner in the family. 

      "Mr. Clemons basically supports his daughter and granddaughter
      and his ailing wife," Pillersdorf said. 

      Pillersdorf also argued that Clemons was just being a father. 

      "Legally, the court may find that a crime," Pillersdorf said. "In
      essence ... it's almost human nature." 

      Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Wohlander said Clemons was
      doing more than just covering for his family. He said Clemons
      divulged information about ongoing drug investigations and
      endangered the lives of police officers. 

      "He didn't cross the line as a father," Wohlander said. "But
      stepped over the line as a law officer." 

      Crystal Clemons Southwood, 21, is serving a sentence of six
      months' home detention and three years' probation for conspiracy
      to distribute marijuana. Michael Southwood, 30, is serving six
      months in prison and three years of supervised release. 

      [Copyright 1997, Dialog]