Los Gatos Weekly-Times Sentencing ends a painful chapter for Peckler family By Shari Kaplan The end of another chapter in the Peckler family's life was written Nov. 4 in the Placer County Courthouse in Auburn when Judge J. Richard Couzens imposed a 24-years-to-life sentence on Robert Scott. Scott, 37, is the drunken driver responsible for killing Los Gatos real estate investor Jim Peckler and his children, 21-year-old Jill and 15-year-old Jeff, nearly two years ago. On Jan. 17, 1997, Scott was behind the wheel of his truck with a blood alcohol level of 0.22 percent--almost three times the legal limit--according to deputy public defender Jon Ward. Scott veered across Highway 267 in Truckee and collided with the Pecklers' vehicle. The Pecklers were five minutes from their vacation destination of Northstar-at-Tahoe. Scott's brother James, a passenger in the truck, died in the accident; another passenger received a jaw injury. Scott sustained moderate injuries. Scott's truck also hit another car, giving its passengers minor injuries. Couzens' sentence came after a plea-bargaining session in September, in which Scott pled guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and thus avoided a trial. According to his lawyers, Scott opted for plea bargaining to avoid causing more pain to his family and to the Pecklers. After serving 22 years, he may be eligible for parole. Scott's father, Frank, apologized to the Pecklers and friends who traveled to Auburn to be with widow Judy Peckler and surviving daughters Jana and Jennifer. The Pecklers also shared some thoughts with the Scotts--but not of anger. "There was a time when I felt a 'just' sentence might be if Robert was able to experience, even for one hour, the daily devastation and pain in my heart," Judy wrote as part of a testimony she read Nov. 4. "But I've grown to realize that pain alone will have no meaning and teach us nothing. I finally believe that if, for just one moment, you have been touched by the magnitude of love shared by my family--if your heart can beat just once with theirs, then I wish for you their greatest gift: love." [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, November 11, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.