By Lori EhdeFormer South Dakota Congressman Bill Janklow was sentenced to 100 days in jail last Thursday, Jan. 22, in the manslaughter case surrounding the death of Hardwick’s Randy Scott.In the week that followed, both local and regional reaction has ranged from outrage to compassion.At the Howling Dog Saloon, formerly the Scott family bar, "Scotty’s," bar manager Jodi Christy said reaction has been an equal mix of emotions."I’ve heard a lot people say he didn’t get enough — that he got off with only a slap on the hand," Christy said. "But I’ve also heard a lot of people say that if he had been anyone else — without so much media attention — they wouldn’t have gotten so much."With so many people voicing opinions on the outcome, the Scott family members themselves have reserved comment, in light of a wrongful death lawsuit underway.Scott, 55, was killed Aug. 16 when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a Cadillac driven by Janklow, who sped through a stop sign at a rural intersection in Moody County, S.D.Janklow was found guilty Dec. 8 of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign.A 100-day prison sentence was suspended, and he’ll serve that time instead in the Minnehaha County Jail under several court conditions:oAfter 30 days behind bars, he’ll be allowed out of the facility six days a week for up to 10 hours per day to perform community service.oHe was sentenced to 30 days in jail for reckless driving, but that will be served at the same time.oHe was fined $5,000 and was ordered to pay Moody County $50 per day for the cost of his 100 days in jail.oHe was fined $200 each for the speeding and failing to stop at a stop sign.oHe must report to the Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls on Feb. 7.oAfter his jail term, he’ll be on probation for three years during which time he won’t be allowed to drive.oIf he abides by all the conditions of his sentence, his felony record will be cleared after three years.A key witness in the trial and also in Monday’s sentence hearing was Luverne’s Terry Johnson who was with Scott on the fateful afternoon of Aug. 16."When I was called to the witness stand Thursday, I told them two things happened that day: 1. A man’s life was lost. 2. A man’s life was ruined," Johnson said."I don’t hate him for what happened, and I wanted to tell them that. It wouldn’t have been any different if it had been a farmer or any ordinary Joe that ran that stop sign."Johnson said he thinks some people wished he’d come down harder on Janklow when the judge asked for his opinion."I think some people wanted me to lash out when the judge asked me what kind of sentence Janklow should get." Johnson said."But what I said was that Mr. Janklow didn’t wake up that morning intending to kill Randy, and I don’t think a 10-year jail sentence would be right in this case."Johnson said he doesn’t necessarily agree with the judge’s decision to clear Janklow’s felony record after three years, but he said ordering community service is good for everyone."I think he’s better off talking to schools and teenagers about the dangers of speeding and driving recklessly," Johnson said.Johnson said he’d been asking Janklow for the past several months to call him so the two of them could speak personally.He got that chance two days prior to sentencing when Janklow called Johnson’s cell phone from Washington, D.C."I felt, from our conversation, he was remorseful about what had happened," Johnson said, declining to share specifics about the conversation.Christy attended Monday’s sentence hearing and said that she, too, had softened her opinion somewhat on Janklow."There were a lot of people who testified to his character, and I got to know a different Bill Janklow than what had been portrayed," she said.The 64-year-old Republican had been active in South Dakota politics for three decades, as governor and then congressman. Character witnesses pointed out the good Janklow’s done for so many people for so many years."Obviously he’s done a lot of good as a public official," Christy said."But the bottom line is Randy’s still gone. Nobody testified to the kind of person he was and the kind of person we lost."She said she’s encouraging everyone to channel emotions positively. "I’ve always tried to get people to remember Randy," Christy said. She did that last fall by organizing a memorial ride on Oct. 4 that drew more than 700 motorcycles to Luverne.Planners have decided to make it an annual event on the anniversary of Scott’s death on Aug. 16.This summer, the Scott Memorial Ride will be on Saturday, Aug. 14, with proceeds going to a charity of the Scott family’s choice.
