Man convicted of the 1993 flood catastrophe to have a parole hearing

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man convicted of causing the West Quincy levee to fail in the Great Flood of 1993 is set to have a parole hearing Wednesday after 33 years in prison.

James Scott was found guilty of causing the levee to fail and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for "causing a catastrophe." Scott is the only person in the state ever to be convicted of that crime and to serve time for it. The Great Flood of 1993 was categorized as one of the worst floods in United States history.

Scott will be in front of the Parole Board Wednesday in the Cole County Courthouse.

In a 2018 interview with ABC 17 News, Scott maintained his innocence. Scott said, “I can’t sit here and prove to you that I did not break the West Quincy Levee. Yet, they never proved at my trial that I did. Because I did not break the West Quincy Levee."

When Scott was asked what he would say to then Governor Mike Parson, he said, "You know I'm ready to go home. You know, I'm not the same person I was 25 years ago. I've done everything possible since I've been locked up to, uh, better my situation to make me a better person."

It could take several days for the parole board to make a decision.