Missouri AG advances case to remove St. Louis Sheriff from office

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Attorney General is moving forward with the case to remove St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery from office, filing a motion for a partial summary judgment Tuesday in the ongoing court case.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is now requesting that the court issue a judgement on three counts of alleged misconduct outlined in the state’s quo warranto petition.

In June, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office first called on Montgomery to resign following allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and workplace instability. Montgomery refused to step down, and the Missouri AG’s Office, led by Andrew Bailey at the time, formally filed a quo warranto petition.

The quo warranto outlines six counts alleging misconduct by Montgomery, including:

• Nepotism
• Unlawfully detaining acting St. Louis Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross
• Unlawfully detaining and disarming private security guard Darryl Wilson
• Failure to transport inmates for physical and mental health treatment
• Illegal use of the office for personal gain
• Financial mismanagement of the office

Hanaway’s motion for a partial summary judgement seeks a ruling on three of those counts: The detainment of Ross, failure to transport inmates and financial mismanagement.

“Public office is a public trust, not a personal privilege,” said Attorney General Hanaway via a news release. “When an elected official abuses authority, neglects legal duties, and exploits taxpayer resources for personal gain, the rule of law requires accountability. The undisputed facts prove Sheriff Montgomery has forfeited the right to hold public office, and this motion seeks to ensure justice is finally done for the people of St. Louis.”

Under Missouri law, a writ of quo warranto authorizes the Attorney General to remove an official from public office, but a court must issue a judgment confirming the legal standard for removal has been met.

For more information on Montgomery’s quo warranto court proceedings, click here.

Along with this quo warranto petition, Motgomery is also facing a federal indictment for deprivation of rights under color of law and a dispute with St. Louis leaders over a new ordinance can force the sheriff’s office to transport jail inmates.

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