Two very different stories showed up on the June 28, 2011 web news of KDLT out of Sioux Falls. What they have in common, though, is that the addictions of two different men led to a pretty devastating downfall.
In the one case, Mark Marshall, a South Dakota magistrate judge, had to resign his post after his second drunken driving conviction. We can only imagine the embarrassment that must follow a man who has been a member of the 7th Circuit Court for the past two years. Being a judge is a coveted position, one which isn’t easy to attain. It’s an honor to be called “Your Honor.” How could he not know better?
No doubt it is a stressful job at times and perhaps he has a stressful life as well – who knows. But the fact remains that no one ever told him that he couldn’t have a beer or wine or a White Russian at home in the evening if he felt like it. The law only states that one must not be disorderly in public, or drive while inebriated. This is the law that he himself was telling others to uphold. He stepped down. The community can only hope that he will step up towards treatment and put down whatever pride led him to think that it was okay for him to drive when he was inebriated.
At least he didn’t kill anyone. The story didn’t mention whether he will also be giving up his driver’s license or entering treatment.
The second story is about Jason Anderson of Rapid City. His drug addiction and his gambling addiction caused him to be in great need of cash. So he decided to pretend to organize a baseball camp and last summer he signed up numerous families. He bilked the families out of over $46,000, which he has been ordered to pay back. He will also now be a prison resident for the next ten years for “grand theft by embezzlement.”
The community was staggered by the ruse, and parents and children were left more than disappointed by the scheme. Anderson has apologized, saying, “Sorry for ruining your dreams." Well, he’ll have ten years to repent.
