In a recent move that could see St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery ousted from his position, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a motion for partial summary judgment. Hanaway's office maintains that after a thorough process of discovery and accumulation of evidence, certain facts in the case against Montgomery are no longer contested, warranting a summary judgment on three specific counts of misconduct.
Attorney General Hanaway's action comes after allegations against Sheriff Montgomery surfaced, suggesting misuse of office and disregard for legal duties. "Public office is a public trust, not a personal privilege," Hanaway stated, as reported by the Attorney General's Office. She added, "When an elected official abuses authority, neglects legal duties, and exploits taxpayer resources for personal gain, the rule of law requires accountability."
The three uncontested counts made public in a 90-page writ of quo warranto earlier this year charge Montgomery with unlawful arrest of Deputy Commissioner Ross (Count II), neglecting to ensure medical care for detainees (Count IV), and using taxpayer resources for his personal benefit (Count V). Among the alleged abuses, the Sheriff reportedly directed deputies to detain Ross without cause and failed to provide required transportations of inmates to medical facilities, a responsibility clearly assigned to the Sheriff's Office by various civic authorities.
In addition to these charges, Montgomery is accused of using on-duty deputies and public-funded vehicles to shuttle and oversee his children. This act, outlined in the motion by Hanaway's office, violates Missouri's laws against deriving personal benefit from public office. "The people of St. Louis deserve leadership that upholds the law, not one that places personal interest above public duty," Hanaway commented, emphasizing her commitment to address government corruption, as per the Attorney General's Office.
The writ of quo warranto invoked by the Attorney General enables her to seek removal of an official who has allegedly occupied an office unlawfully or forfeited it through misconduct. The filed motion seeks to expedite Sheriff Montgomery's removal based on the substantiated claims, reinforcing that his actions have breached the standards set by Missouri law for public officials.
