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FLANDREAU, S.D. (Aug. 30) - Rep. Bill Janklow, a political icon in South Dakota for three decades, could spend the next decade in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter for a fatal collision with a motorcyclist.
Janklow was also charged Friday with failure to stop, speeding and misdemeanor reckless driving for the Aug. 16 crash that killed a 55-year-old farmer from Minnesota.
The manslaughter charge, which carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, throws Janklow's future into doubt and tarnishes a storied political career that includes four terms as governor and one as state attorney general.
Authorities say Janklow was driving 71 mph when his Cadillac ran a stop sign in eastern South Dakota, killing Randolph E. Scott. Scott was returning home from his former father-in-law's 80th birthday party.
Janklow, who has a history of driving fast, told an investigator he saw the sign but was going too fast to stop.
The 63-year-old Republican has an initial court appearance Tuesday, the same day Congress reconvenes after its August break.
The House of Representatives ethics committee automatically investigates any member convicted of a felony.
The committee's rules say representatives who plead guilty or are convicted of a crime that carries more than two years in prison cannot vote in the chamber until their record is cleared, or until re-elected.
Prosecutor Bill Ellingson said in a news release that manslaughter charges in traffic accidents are warranted in cases where there is ''a conscious and unjustifiable disregard of a substantial risk.''
Janklow can decide at his court appearance if he wants a preliminary hearing and bond will also be set, Ellingson said.
Janklow would not comment. His son, attorney Russell Janklow, said it would be inappropriate to talk about the case.
''Any discussions that should and would be done will be done at the courthouse and that's the appropriate place for it,'' he said.
Some political watchers believe the same rural intersection that took Scott's life also claimed Janklow's political career.
''I think he was politically vulnerable before the accident,'' said Jim Meader, an Augustana College government professor and polling expert. ''Since the accident, I think his political future has been sealed.''
If Janklow were to resign, fellow Republican Gov. Mike Rounds would call a special election within three months to fill it.
Regardless of his fate, Janklow will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most powerful politicians in South Dakota history. He served four years as state attorney general and 16 years as governor before being elected to the House last year.
But Janklow's impressive political record was sometimes overshadowed by his erratic driving. An unapologetic speeder, Janklow received a dozen speeding tickets in a five-year period in the early 1990s, a time when he held no public office, records show.
Janklow's spotty driving record in some ways defined the maverick image he developed as governor. He has always been known as a fighter - unafraid to take on Washington or state lawmakers who disagreed with his ideas. He is also credited with cutting property taxes and bringing several big businesses to South Dakota, and voters have always rewarded him at the polls.
News of the charges brought a mixed reaction among voters who helped make him such a fixture in South Dakota politics.
Meta Ibis of Sioux Falls said Friday that Janklow was a good governor but his career is ruined.
''He needs to be stopped, but it's too bad it had to be that way,'' she said. ''The guy was just nuts when it came to driving.''
Some were less gracious. Myrtle Funston of Sioux Falls said she doesn't want Janklow representing her.
''He has been in trouble before and I think it's about time,'' she said. ''It's too bad it takes something like that to stop him.''
Not everyone was ready to have Janklow's career end.
''He's innocent until proven guilty,'' said Bill Middagh of Sioux Falls. ''He should not leave office unless he is convicted.''
The family of the victim thanked the Highway Patrol for its investigation and Ellingson for considering charges.
''Although no judge or jury can bring Randy back to us, we view the criminal charges filed today as both reasonable and appropriate,'' Scott's mother, Marcella Scott, said in a statement.
AP-NY-08-30-03 0243EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Janklow was also charged Friday with failure to stop, speeding and misdemeanor reckless driving for the Aug. 16 crash that killed a 55-year-old farmer from Minnesota.
The manslaughter charge, which carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, throws Janklow's future into doubt and tarnishes a storied political career that includes four terms as governor and one as state attorney general.
Authorities say Janklow was driving 71 mph when his Cadillac ran a stop sign in eastern South Dakota, killing Randolph E. Scott. Scott was returning home from his former father-in-law's 80th birthday party.
Janklow, who has a history of driving fast, told an investigator he saw the sign but was going too fast to stop.
The 63-year-old Republican has an initial court appearance Tuesday, the same day Congress reconvenes after its August break.
The House of Representatives ethics committee automatically investigates any member convicted of a felony.
The committee's rules say representatives who plead guilty or are convicted of a crime that carries more than two years in prison cannot vote in the chamber until their record is cleared, or until re-elected.
Prosecutor Bill Ellingson said in a news release that manslaughter charges in traffic accidents are warranted in cases where there is ''a conscious and unjustifiable disregard of a substantial risk.''
Janklow can decide at his court appearance if he wants a preliminary hearing and bond will also be set, Ellingson said.
Janklow would not comment. His son, attorney Russell Janklow, said it would be inappropriate to talk about the case.
''Any discussions that should and would be done will be done at the courthouse and that's the appropriate place for it,'' he said.
Some political watchers believe the same rural intersection that took Scott's life also claimed Janklow's political career.
''I think he was politically vulnerable before the accident,'' said Jim Meader, an Augustana College government professor and polling expert. ''Since the accident, I think his political future has been sealed.''
If Janklow were to resign, fellow Republican Gov. Mike Rounds would call a special election within three months to fill it.
Regardless of his fate, Janklow will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most powerful politicians in South Dakota history. He served four years as state attorney general and 16 years as governor before being elected to the House last year.
But Janklow's impressive political record was sometimes overshadowed by his erratic driving. An unapologetic speeder, Janklow received a dozen speeding tickets in a five-year period in the early 1990s, a time when he held no public office, records show.
Janklow's spotty driving record in some ways defined the maverick image he developed as governor. He has always been known as a fighter - unafraid to take on Washington or state lawmakers who disagreed with his ideas. He is also credited with cutting property taxes and bringing several big businesses to South Dakota, and voters have always rewarded him at the polls.
News of the charges brought a mixed reaction among voters who helped make him such a fixture in South Dakota politics.
Meta Ibis of Sioux Falls said Friday that Janklow was a good governor but his career is ruined.
''He needs to be stopped, but it's too bad it had to be that way,'' she said. ''The guy was just nuts when it came to driving.''
Some were less gracious. Myrtle Funston of Sioux Falls said she doesn't want Janklow representing her.
''He has been in trouble before and I think it's about time,'' she said. ''It's too bad it takes something like that to stop him.''
Not everyone was ready to have Janklow's career end.
''He's innocent until proven guilty,'' said Bill Middagh of Sioux Falls. ''He should not leave office unless he is convicted.''
The family of the victim thanked the Highway Patrol for its investigation and Ellingson for considering charges.
''Although no judge or jury can bring Randy back to us, we view the criminal charges filed today as both reasonable and appropriate,'' Scott's mother, Marcella Scott, said in a statement.
AP-NY-08-30-03 0243EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
:jaw: can't belive this is happening poor innoncent poeple if he's found gulity then he deserves prison time, considering the fact THE innoncent ones never win regardless, it won't bring back thier family members!