FLORENCE — Cathy Scott Hansen, the only child of a woman found slain in her home more than a year ago, was overwhelmed with emotion Wednesday after she saw the man who was an accessory in her mother’s death receive the maximum sentence allowed for the crime.
Hansen discovered the body of Geraldine “Jerry” Scott on June 1, 2007, just one day after her mother’s 75th birthday.
Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles sentenced 24-year-old Claude Earl Reed to five years in prison, as well as five years of supervised release, on the charge of accessory after the fact of a felony.
Reed, however, will serve three years in prison because of credit for time he’s already served, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said. Reed was arrested soon after Scott’s death and has been in jail since.
Reed also will have to face the S.C. Department of Probation Parole and Pardon Services because he was on parole for receiving stolen goods at the time of his arrest in Scott’s slaying.
His brother, 18-year-old Davon William Reed, was sentenced to life in prison Sept. 3 for killing Scott in her King Avenue home.
Police said Davon Reed stabbed Scott at least 17 times, stomped on her face during a fit of rage, then stole her silver 2003 Pontiac Vibe and drove around town in it with his friends.
Claude Reed saw his younger brother with the car and didn’t call police, Clements said.
The car was later discovered at Williamsburg Apartments off Edisto Drive, Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said in an earlier report.
“I just thank God and the court system that it actually worked. They got what they deserved, they didn’t get off light ...,” Hansen said.
“Maybe this example will teach others, especially juveniles, that they can’t get away with murder or any other serious crime without more punishment than a slap on the wrist,” she said.
Before Claude Reed’s sentencing, Hansen asked Nettles for the highest sentence possible. She also asked that a restraining order be placed on Claude Reed once he is released from prison to keep him away from her.
“It’s been a long haul in one sense, you know, just wondering when it’s going to be over,” Hansen said after the sentencing. “And then in another sense it’s almost like yesterday, because you relive it every day — not knowing when the verdict’s going to be and what it’s go be. It’s almost like reliving it every day.”
Through it all, Hansen said, she and her family had the support of local law enforcement and media and the Maple Park Association, which is comprised of Scott’s neighbors.
That association, along with Rep. Kris Crawford of Florence, was instrumental in implementing the bill, “Jerry’s Law,” named in Scott’s memory.
The bill was introduced into the House this past legislative session and was received favorably in committee, Crawford said.
The bill will be re-introduced in January, he said.
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