Executive Summary
- US Marshals billed the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office $6,852.54 for transport and security.
- Sheriff Alfred Montgomery was transported daily from federal custody in Illinois for his civil trial.
- The Sheriff’s Office has requested that the state of Missouri cover the transportation costs.
- A judicial ruling on the effort to remove Montgomery from office is expected by December 12.
Court documents filed Monday reveal that the U.S. Marshals Service has billed the St. Louis City Sheriff’s Office $6,852.54 for security and transportation services provided for Sheriff Alfred Montgomery during his recent civil trial. The filings indicate that the Sheriff’s Office is now petitioning the state of Missouri to assume financial responsibility for these costs.
Montgomery, 28, has been held in federal custody at the Perry County, Illinois Jail since October, following the revocation of his bond in a separate federal criminal case. According to the court records, two members of the U.S. Marshals Service were required to transport Montgomery to and from the courthouse for each day of the five-day proceedings. Marshals also maintained a security presence directly behind Montgomery throughout the trial.
The civil trial stems from a petition by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to remove Montgomery from his elected position, citing alleged abuse of power. While the trial concluded on November 25, a final decision has not yet been rendered. Judge Steven Ohmer, presiding over the case, filed an order stating that a ruling regarding Montgomery’s potential ouster will be issued before December 12.
Regarding the financial implications, local media outlet First Alert 4 reported submitting a Sunshine Request to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to determine the total cost of the trial to the state. As of the time of reporting, the Attorney General’s office had not provided a response regarding the expenses incurred by their department.
Administrative and Judicial Outlook
The dispute over the $6,852.54 transportation bill adds an administrative layer to the ongoing legal challenges facing the St. Louis City Sheriff. As the court prepares to issue a ruling on the civil ouster petition, the allocation of costs between city and state agencies highlights the procedural complexities involved when an elected official faces legal action while in federal custody. Meanwhile, the scheduling for Montgomery’s separate federal criminal case remains pending. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
