Council hears complaint, but traffic judge stands by sentencing

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- A Scott City auto shop owner threatened to sue the entire Scott City Council if one of his mechanics is forced to serve a 90-day jail sentenced.

At a city council meeting Monday, Rick Jackson claimed the sentence against his auto body mechanic is excessive punishment for simple traffic violations and that the judge in the case, Alan E. Moss Jr., was unfair.

Jackson, owner of Riverport Auto, described Randy Eggemeyer, 36, as a hard worker who's not very responsible when it comes to paperwork.

Last week Jackson launched a Web site and printed flyers attacking Moss. He talked to the city council Monday during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Contacted Monday, Moss declined to comment because Eggemeyer has a pending case before him.

However, the judge sent a letter with background information to Scott City Mayor Tim Porch and the city administrator Ron Eskew, making clear that he stood by his decision.

Porch and Eskew shared that letter with the public at Monday's meeting.

Previous incidents

Court records paint Eggemeyer as an individual who persistently broke traffic laws, ignored court dates, violated probation and escaped from jail.

Moss pointed out that Eggemeyer had been charged with driving without a license nine times before he went to jail.

According to municipal court records, after his regular license was revoked because he didn't have insurance, Eggemeyer was granted a hardship license, which permits him only to drive to work and home.

After his eighth ticket for violating the hardship license, Moss gave Eggemeyer probation so he could continue working. After that he failed to appear in court at least three times, and then escaped from jail.

"Considering all these circumstances, I feel that a 90-day sentence is appropriate," Moss wrote.

Jackson said the fact that the judge amended Eggemeyer's sentence from 30 days to 90 days after he escaped custody was illegal.

Moss told the mayor in his letter that he had the discretion to change the sentence since it was done on the same date.

Jackson urged council members Monday to investigate the judge. When he called Moss a vulgar name, Porch slammed his gavel down and told him the discussion was over.

Surftime's over

In other business, the council members instructed police to crack down on skateboarders.

Representatives from local businesses asked for help keeping sidewalk surfers out of parking lots, business walkways and roofs, claiming they are rude as well as a liability risk..

Apparently skateboarders have been climbing to the top of one of the church roofs and on the Rhodes station to skate on smooth surfaces up there.

Porch said the park board is applying for grants so the city can build a skateboard park.

Meanwhile, the mayor said police should pick up juveniles violating a skateboard ordinance that limits where they can skate and force parents to come and pick them up from the police station.

Currently, violators receive verbal warnings.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160