ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Alfred Montgomery will continue to serve as sheriff for the time being after a judge refused to grant the Missouri Attorney General’s request to remove him from office prior to his upcoming federal trial. This decision came during a status hearing presided over by Judge Steven Ohmer, who characterized the AG’s motion as “bizarre” and “very unusual.”
The federal misdemeanor charge against Montgomery, set to be tried on November 18, involves allegations related to the civil rights of Tammy Ross, the then-acting jail director, whom he is accused of handcuffing during a confrontation in February. State attorneys had sought Montgomery’s removal, arguing that the ongoing legal issues impede his ability to effectively fulfill the responsibilities of his role as sheriff.
Montgomery currently faces a bond that prohibits him from carrying a firearm and prevents him from communicating with potential witnesses in the case, which may include some employees from his own department. However, Judge Ohmer noted that some previous sheriffs have also served without a weapon. Retired Judge David Mason, representing Montgomery, assured that the sheriff could still perform his duties. He argued that only a handful of the roughly 150 staff members are off-limits for communication, allowing operations to continue smoothly.
The Attorney General’s office initiated a quo warranto action against Montgomery in June, outlining six counts of misconduct. Allegations in the filing included accusations of kidnapping Ross, disarming a former deputy, misappropriating public funds, using department personnel for personal errands such as driving his children to school, and failing to transport detainees to medical facilities when needed.
Additionally, claims of nepotism were directed against Montgomery regarding his hiring of an alleged half-brother. However, this charge was dropped after Montgomery’s lawyers produced a paternity test confirming the deputy’s biological father is not Montgomery.
Montgomery also faces a civil lawsuit filed by Ross and is contending with a defamation lawsuit from a former deputy whom he dismissed from the department. These legal challenges contribute to the scrutiny surrounding the sheriff’s office, as calls for accountability continue.
This set of circumstances puts Montgomery’s future as sheriff in a precarious position, with ongoing trials and hearings likely to determine his next steps in the coming months.
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