With Wednesday's noon deadline passing, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a quo warranto against St. Louis City Sheriff Alfred Montgomery beginning the legal process to remove him from office.
"Failing to perform your duties, exceeding your jurisdiction, terrorizing employees or frivolously wasting taxpayer dollars undermines public confidence in our governmental institutions," Bailey told reporters at a press conference.
The Attorney General lists six counts against Montgomery, they are:
1: Unconstitutional nepotism
2: Unlawfully detaining Deputy Commissioner of the City Justice Center Tammy Ross
3: Unlawfully detaining and disarming former Deputy Darryl Wilson
4: Failing to transport prisoners from the City Justice Center for medical treatment
5: misusing public resources by having employees transport his children to and from school in a department vehicle
6: failing to responsible manage the department's finances
The first count of nepotism is new accusation. Attorney General Bailey alleges on Montgomery's first day in office, he hired Malik Taylor to work as a deputy. Bailey alleges Montgomery and Taylor are half brothers, sharing the same father. Bailey says this count is a violation of the Missouri constitution and this alone warrants Montgomery's removal from office.
In a statement provided to KMOX, Montgomery called this allegation "absolutely untrue," adding "the person named in this petition is not related to the Sheriff."
On Tuesday afternoon, Montgomery read a prepared statement to the press but did not take questions. In his statement, he alleged the Attorney General had no evidence and only media reports. Asked about what evidence they have, Attorney General Bailey says they possess documents and have conducted interviews during their investigation. He adds self incriminating evidence from Montgomery is not hard to find.
"You need look further than his own statements and admitting to most of these allegations himself on his social media pages and in interviews."
A review of the quo warranto filed by Bailey to remove Montgomery shows additional evidence includes video of Sheriff Montgomery detaining the deputy commissioner of the jail and his kids being dropped off by a department employee.
"He is running a taxpayer funded, personal private daycare in his office and using his staff and city taxpayer resources."
Bailey is still holding out hope Montgomery resigns.
"My hope would be that Sheriff Montgomery would see the light and do the right thing and resign immediately."
A statement from Sheriff Montgomery indicates he isn't backing down.
"Today's filing by the Missouri Attorney General marks the beginning of a legal process, one we fully intend to meet head-on," Montgomery said in a statement. "We look forward to fighting these unfounded allegations in court, where facts, not headlines, will determine the outcome."