ST. LOUIS — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has announced that her office is adding a new count to its ongoing quo warranto case seeking the permanent removal of Alfred Montgomery from his position as St. Louis city sheriff. The additional charge alleges Montgomery violated Missouri statute § 106.220 by failing to personally devote his time to performing the duties of sheriff while incarcerated miles outside the city he is charged with protecting.
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Hanaway said Montgomery’s incarceration makes it impossible for him to fulfill his responsibilities.
“He has failed citizens, detainees, and his own staff for far too long,” Hanaway said. “We are adding a new count to our case asking the Court to permanently remove him from the office he has so blatantly forfeited. St. Louis has a bright future ahead and it isn’t with Montgomery as sheriff.”
The full list of charges against Montgomery includes:
- Failing to personally devote time to the performance of sheriff duties, violating § 106.220.
- Ordering deputies to unlawfully handcuff and detain a deputy commissioner of the St. Louis City Justice Center, violating state law and civil rights.
- Illegally arresting a licensed private security guard and seizing the individual’s firearm without legal authority.
- Refusing to ensure detainees received required medical transports more than 60 times in his first seven months.
- Using on-duty deputies and taxpayer-funded vehicles to transport and supervise his children, violating § 105.452’s prohibition on deriving personal benefit from public office.
- Willfully or fraudulently mismanaging finances, creating an increasing deficit for the Sheriff’s Office.
Under Missouri law, the Attorney General may file a petition for a writ of quo warranto to remove an official who unlawfully holds office or has forfeited it through neglect, abuse of duty, or misconduct. Hanaway emphasized that the supplemental petition reflects her office’s commitment to combating government corruption and upholding the rule of law.
The charges and statements are based on probable cause. Montgomery is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
