GALLIPOLIS — Judge D. Dean Evans sentenced Odessa L. Martin to four years in prison, one year shy of the maximum sentence allowable, Wednesday morming in Gallia County Common Pleas Court.

Martin, 37, 470 Van Zant Road, Bidwell, was convicted of tampering with evidence by a jury of 12 following a one-day trial held in common pleas court on Monday. She was found guilty of burning blood stained clothing allegedly belonging to her husband following the slaying of William “Wild Bill” Sowers, who was found dead of blunt force trauma in his Mount Tabor residence on Nov. 17, 2006.

During Monday’s trial, jurors heard testimony from Gallia County Coroner Dr. Daniel Whiteley, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation Special Agent Jonathan Jenkins, and Gallia County Sheriff’s Det. Chad Wallace. However, the most incriminating evidence heard by jurors was obtained from an interview with Martin conducted by Wallace.

The defense filed a motion to suppress the taped interview before the trial and objected to its playing in court Monday, but Judge Evans overruled and allowed jurors to view it. The video ended up being the only real evidence the state had linking Martin to the crime. She did not testify in her own defense.

Her husband, Brynn K. Martin, 29, 122 Van Zant Road, is charged with four counts in connection with Sowers’ death, being murder, aggravated murder, robbery, and aggravated robbery. His jury trial is scheduled for June 22 at 9 a.m.