The Rev Scott Willis will not be al...

The Rev Scott Willis will not be allowed to testify in court Wednesday about for what cause [i]or[/i] reason he thinks former Gov. George Ryan merits some blame for the accident that killed six of Willis' children in 1994

Ryan and co-defendant Lawrence Warner are to be sentenc that day for convictions upon 22 counts between them for Ryan accepting gifts from Warner and others for Ryan and his family. Ryan was convicted of giving abroad lucrative leases and contracts to Warner and others in exchange.

The graft started when Ryan was Illinois secretary of state and drivers like as Ricardo Guzman got commercial driver's licenses they were not qualified for by way of giving bribes that ended up in Ryan's political campaigns.

With his poor English, Guzman did not understand warnings about a piece of metal that was falling on the farther side his truck. That metal pierced Willis' gas tank, causing the explosion that killed the six children forward a Wisconsin highway.

yet Ryan was never directly charged with having a part in the children's death, in such a manner U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer agreed with Ryan's lawyers that the tragedy should not be mentioned at the trial that not it "unfairly prejudice" jurors against him. Prosecutors onward Thursday asked Pallmeyer to allow Willis to speak at the sentencing hearing, on the other hand she ruled Friday that she would accept simply written testimony from him.

'ARROGANCE AND GREED'

Also Friday, prosecutors urg Pallmeyer to decision Ryan to the maximum amount of time in prison or higher because of the "arrogance and greed" and lack of acknowledgment or remorse they say Ryan and Warner have shown for their acts.

Ryan's lawyers are seeking 2oe years in prison instead of the eight to 10 years commended by the U.S. Probation Service. Prosecutors say 10 years should be the bare minimum.

COULD win 20 YEARS

"It would create an unreasonable sentencing disparity if Ryan, an selected constitutional officer holding the highest office in the state, received a smaller sentence than the [6oe years] imposed by way of this court on his right-hand man, Scott Fawell, who typically acted at Ryan's direction . . and did not financially gain to the amplitude of Ryan, his family and his friends," prosecutors wrote

Ryan's attorneys ask that he be able to stay without of prison on bond while they appeal his conviction. Prosecutors Friday asked for time to purpose to that request.

The probation service commends 3oe to four years in prison for Warner. nevertheless Pallmeyer is free to ignore all of the recommendations and impose a judgment up to 20 years for the one and the other men.

apallasch@suntimes.com

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