Ex-cop jailed in
Maui road rage caseThe retired police officer
admitted his actions
were "inappropriate"
WAILUKU -- A retired Maui police officer has been sentenced to five years in prison for endangering the lives of eight tourists in a road rage case three years ago.
Leland Scott Jr., 54, of Lahaina, pleaded no contest to two reduced charges of second-degree criminal property damage.
Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Pesenhofer said Scott's Ford Bronco bumped the back of a van carrying six visitors from Pennsylvania on the Hana Highway on June 28, 2000.
After the van pulled to the side of the road, Scott passed it and then intentionally rammed the back of a convertible carrying a honeymooning couple from Delaware 15 times, Pesenhofer said.
Scott admitted that his actions were "impaired and inappropriate." But he told Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza on Wednesday that he was just trying to pass the vehicles and that the incidents were "extremely overexaggerated."
Defense attorney Steven Songstad said Scott had been taking a prescription painkiller for a neck injury he received while serving as a police officer.
He also described Scott's actions as "an anomaly, an aberration," and said Scott had written letters of apology to the victims.
But Cardoza said he had trouble agreeing with Scott's description of the events, citing statements from witnesses that they had tried to let Scott's vehicle pass.
"You don't get people to pull off the side of the road by hitting them from behind," Cardoza said.
