JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 31-year-old Mt. Vernon man has pleaded guilty in Jefferson County Court to felony driving under the influence in connection with a fiery crash into an apartment building earlier this year that resulted in dozens of people losing their home.

James K. Scroggins entered an open plea of guilty to the Class 4 felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence resulting in bodily harm, as well as to Class 4 felony aggravated reckless driving causing bodily harm and misdemeanor DUI.

Scroggins was driving a van early in the morning of March 22, 2016, when he struck the west side of the Garden Glen apartment building.

Upon arriving at the accident, personnel detected an odor of natural gas. The Mt Vernon firefighters and Mt Vernon Police officers began an evacuation of the apartment building.

During the evacuation there was an explosion which ignited the building. When the building exploded a Mt Vernon firefighter was injured. The firefighter was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital by Litton’s Ambulance, was treated at the hospital and later released.

Thirty-one residents of the apartment complex are currently displaced but the only injury was to the firefighter.

A status hearing on a pre-trial investigation is scheduled for October 4, in Jefferson County Court. Bail for Scroggins has been reduced from $50,000 to $10,000. He will need to post $1,000 cash to gain his release.