Easton zoning commissioner admits falsely reporting car stolen
BRIDGEPORT — Ray Martin, a prominent figure in Easton politics and a real estate agent in Stratford, was given a suspended sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to falsely reporting his car as stolen to hide that he had a had an accident.
Martin, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of making false testimony under the Alford Doctrine and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo to a one-year suspended sentence followed by two years parole.
“You shall have no new criminal convictions,” the judge warned him.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Martin replied.
Martin declined to comment as he and his attorney, John R. Gulash, exited the Fairfield County Courthouse.
A plea under the Alford Doctrine means that Martin did not admit his guilt but admitted that he could be found guilty of the charges if he went to trial. The judge then found him guilty.
Martin previously served on the Easton Police Commission and was a member of the Republican Town Committee for 20 years until last year. He is currently a member of the city’s Planning and Regional Planning Commission.
This is not Martin’s first conviction.
In 2017, Martin was sentenced to three years probation and a $10,000 fine for his role in an international prescription and steroid ring run by a former Newtown police sergeant.
In this most recent incident on September 7, 2021, Stratford Police said Martin came to the police department and reported that his 2011 Cadillac sedan had been stolen from his property on Main Street.
A short time later, police said they received a call from a local towing company that the Cadillac sedan was found abandoned on Success Avenue. Police said the car was Martin’s car and had damage to the front end.
Police said they later received information from Bridgeport Police that a car matching the description of Martin’s Cadillac was involved in a hit-and-run accident at Pixlee Place in Bridgeport on September 3.
A witness photographed the fleeing Cadillac with the driver, police said. However, police said the witness later refused to show the photos to police.
Police said the tow truck owner, who reported finding the Cadillac, later told police he had previously received a text message from Martin telling him where the car was and that it was in Bridgeport been involved in an accident.
Police said the video showed Martin dropping off the car at the towing company on September 3.
