Janklow Completes Jail Term

Former congressman and governor Bill Janklow left jail Monday, 100 days after he began serving his sentence for an accident that killed a motorcyclist.

Janklow walked out of the jail at 9:07 a.m., got in an SUV driven by a friend and left.

A jury in Janklow's hometown of Flandreau convicted him in December of speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter for an Aug. 16 accident that killed Randy Scott of Hardwick, Minn.

Scott, 55, died instantly. Janklow, 64, suffered a broken hand and bleeding on the brain.

Janklow, a Republican who served four terms as governor, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He resigned Jan. 20 and started serving his jail time Feb. 7.

Janklow has appealed his manslaughter and reckless driving convictions to the South Dakota Supreme Court. His law license is suspended at least until that is resolved.

Judge Rodney Steele also fined Janklow $5,750, ordered him to pay $5,000 for his incarceration and put him on probation for three years, during which he won't be allowed to drive. The convictions will be erased from his record if he complies with terms of the sentence.

Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead said Janklow was given no special treatment during his incarceration, except that he was placed away from other inmates who may have tried to seek revenge for his years as attorney general or governor.