By Lori EhdeRandy Scott’s fatal accident, involving the former South Dakota governor, has gained national attention, and much of that attention has focused on the Scott family’s response to the ordeal.But Randy’s mother, Marcella Scott, who also lost her husband, Earl, only two years ago, has respectfully declined media interviews.Instead, she and her family have, at timely intervals, released written statements, such as the one following Janklow’s press conference Monday morning."Randy Scott was a kind and loving member of our family," they shared in a faxed statement Monday morning. "He was taken from us because of Mr. Janklow’s conscious decision to ignore a stop sign and speed through an intersection, just as he had done last December. While Mr. Janklow’s regret is no doubt sincere, we had hoped for more honesty about the cause of Randy’s death."They found little comfort in Janklow’s statements during Monday’s press conference, in which he twice referred to Scott by the wrong name. Janklow mistakenly called Scott "Cliff Robertson," a Hollywood movie star who commonly played roles in western films. The reason for the confusion, Janklow said, is that there’s another Hollywood actor, Randolph Scott, who played similar gunsmoke movie roles.Janklow was scheduled to appear in Moody County District Court today and Friday for a preliminary hearing in which witnesses at the scene of the accident were prepared to offer testimony.That hearing, however, was canceled Monday when Janklow and his attorney waived the right to that hearing and opted to appear directly for arraignment on Friday.In that arraignment, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Janklow will enter an official plea to charges of second-degree manslaughter, failure to stop at a stop sign, going 71 mph in a 55 mph zone and reckless driving.If convicted of the felony charge of manslaughter, Janklow would be banned from voting in Congress, in addition to any prison sentence that may be imposed.Janklow faces maximum court penalties of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.From the Scott family perspective, no prison sentence or career penalty will heal their pain."As a family we want so badly to have Randy back," they said in Monday’s faxed statement. "We understand that the criminal process can redress many wrongs, but not the taking of a life. At the end of the day, whatever the outcome, Randy will still be gone. No verdict can turn back time. All we can hope for from the legal system is fairness, and the eventual imposition of a consequence for a criminal act."
