James Scott
We have been in contact with James Scott for a couple of months now and have posted some of his story before. Here's another letter from Mr. Scott.
"Good morning everyone
I
pray that everyone reading this is doing well and you're staying
safe. I see how things are out there in the free world and hope
things get back to some since of normalcy soon. Everything is going
as good as can be expected considering where I'm at. There has been a
lot thats taken place over the past couple of months and I'd like to
share that with you. Then I will tell you about myself and how it was
that I received a life sentence for a property crime. Usually you
will tell someone thank you for doing something after but I want to
do this different. I want to thank you for reading the following. I
know its going to be lengthy but at this time this is the only way I
have to communicate with everyone. I'm eternally grateful to Lori and
all the people at MPR for making this possible. Its like a dream but
as mom said "this is really happening." Again Thank
You!!
First
I want to begin by telling you how all this came about that I'm able
to correspond with you'll through social media. It all began with one
of my friends Joseph ****** who recently transferred to another
prison. He contacted Missouri Prison Reform on my behalf saying that
I'd be interested in speaking with them. I recieved an email from
Lori saying they wanted to help get my story out on their social
media sites. Then there was Tammy at WMP Justice Review who wants to
get involved in a legal stance. I won't say finally because I believe
there is much more to come. But then there is Vise Media out of New
York City who wants to do a story about my situation.
I
believe that God is bringing everyone together where each one will
play a different role in assuring I'm finally able to go home where I
long to be. Believe me that day can't and won't come soon enough. But
it will when God is ready for me to leave the confines of this
prison. Even though its not very bright at this time there is light
at the end of my tunnel. As I've told mom, my brother, Lori, Tammy,
and others, "I'm not going to put the cart before the horse
because right now all I have is a cart sitting on the ground with no
wheels and no horse. But I believe that all the parts are there they
just need the right people to put it together. We are beginning to
get them in place right now.
My
name is James Scott and I'm serving a life sentence at the Jefferson
City Correctional Center here in Jefferson City, Mo. I've spent over
half my life in prison for a crime I didn't commit. The police in
1993 had me to believe that I committed the crime I'm in prison for
but that's not true. My case stems from the Great Flood of 1993. I'm
the first and only person to be convicted and sentenced for Knowingly
Causing A Catastrophe a class A felony that carries a maximum
sentence of Life and that's what I received. I believe as other do
that if I didn't have the problems as a kid and teenager then I'd
probably not be in prison today. Plus if I would of had paid
attorney's then again I wouldn't be in prison.
There
are people here in this prison who have committee more heinous crimes
like rape murder child molestation sodomy ect. that receive less time
and serve less time then me. We as a whole don't believe that's right
or fair. As I've told others that's the justice system we have here
in Missouri. People asked me if your from Illinois then how is it you
ended up here in Missouri. I put my spin on it and say I just crossed
the wrong bridge. I love Missouri and its a beautiful state but at
this time my feelings are I don't care to ever come back. Not even to
go to a Cardinals or Blues game.
Like
I said I've been locked up for over 27 years for something I didn't
do. I continue to fight my case and research case law hoping to find
something I can use to hopefully get back in court. If I give up then
the people who are responsible for me being here win and I refuse to
give them the satisfaction. I just want for this nightmare to end so
I can go home. I can't say it enough. If you say something long
enough you'll start believing it. I will continue saying I'm going
home till it finally happens.
Mom
and I have spent the past 10 plus years writing to who ever we can
hoping someone will take interest in my case but nothing.(well until
now) I have been told that because I'm not serving a life sentence or
on death row as a result of a case that involves DNA, rape murder
molestation just to name a few people won't help me. She wrote to
Governor Parsons and it took a second letter to get a response. They
wrote her and said I have a petition on his desk but there is no
timeline for him to decide.
Because
of the way I was sentenced I'm not scheduled to see the parole board
until July of 2026. Here is why. I was sentenced as a
prior/persistent offender which means I have to serve 60% of a life
sentence. When I was arrested 1993 it was in Illinois for a burglary,
a burglary I don't remember committing. I received 10 years for that
crime. On June 28,1998 I was released from my Illinois sentence,
while waiting to be sentenced for this case here in Missouri. Judge
Clayton said that we found guility on circumstantial evidence. He ran
my sentence consecutive to any sentence I was currently serving in
Illinois. My attorney argued that I was release form that sentence
June 28th and now its July 6th. He still sentenced me in the manner
he did to ensure I served the maximum time.
I
have made a lot of mistakes in my life and did a lot of dumb stuff
that I'm not proud of. Crimes I'm guilty of and crimes I admitted to
in order to keep someone else out of trouble. Most of the time it was
my brothers that I was protecting. I believe my errors and
transgressions at that young age is the reason I'm here today. I wish
I could go back in time and start over but I can't. I'm forced to
live with the mistakes of my youth everyday. I can't and won't sit
here and try to convince you or anyone reading this that I never
caused the levee to fail they never proved I did at my trial because
I DIDN'T CAUSE THE WEST QUINCY LEVEE TO FAIL!
I've
lost so much as a result of this case with the top two being the 27
plus years that were taken from me but my biggest lose was when my
dad passed away in 2014. Not only was he my dad but he was also my
buddy and my friend. All I have is the memories that I hold near and
dear to my heart. We loved to go fishing together and before he
passed we would talk about catching the big one that always seemed to
get away. Whenever I'm able to go home after I drop my stuff off at
moms the first thing I want to is go visit dads gravesite. My mom is
up in age and I pray that she will be there when I go him. I've told
her that I owe her my life for the rest of hers. She s my rock and my
best friend and there is no one who has done more for me since I've
been locked up then her.
One
other thing that I missed out on because of this case is my
opportunity to have children of my own and have the family I longed
for. I listen to some of the guys here talk about there children and
frankly it hurts. But hey maybe it wasn't meant to be. I believe God
has a plan and purpose for me and my life and I can't wait till he
reveals it to me. Mom reads a scripture to me all the time and I'd
like to share it with you. It ties in with what I just
said
**Jeremiah
29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to
prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.**
I
know there are a lot of people out there who believe in me and want
nothing more then for me to be allowed to go home. Your support is
much needed. We have a lot of work to do and the team is being
assembled to insure that happens. We have Lori and her team at
Missouri Prison Reform, Tammy and her team at WMPJustice Review and
Sneha at Vise Media. We are working to set up a PayPal fundraising
account to help pay for legal expences and thats where I'm really
going to need your help. I'm so grateful for every one involved in
helping me. Until next time thank you again for reading what I've
wrote and I look forward to doing it again. Before I close I would
like to share one of my favorite songs with you When I'm Back On My
Feet Again by Michael Bolton. If your able to listen to it I hope you
will and I hope you like it as much as I do
Respectfully
James Scott"
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