St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery was indicted Thursday on five federal felony charges — including four counts of witness retaliation and one count of witness tampering — less than two months after his first indictment on a federal misdemeanor civil rights charge.
The new charges stem from alleged actions in the weeks following Montgomery’s August indictment. That first case accused him of unlawfully detaining Tammy Ross, then the city’s acting jail director, after she denied him access to a rape victim he sought to interview.
Montgomery pleaded not guilty to all of the new charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Bodenhausen placed him on home confinement and electronic monitoring while the new case proceeds. Montgomery will be permitted to leave home only for medical appointments, court-approved meetings with his attorney and court appearances.
Bodenhausen said in court that there was “probable cause to believe he violated terms of his bond,” calling the situation “almost the most serious thing you can allege,” according to St. Louis Magazine. The judge added that he was “on the fence” about jailing Montgomery immediately but ultimately opted for home confinement.
Prosecutors also said Montgomery tested positive for marijuana use on Sept. 8 — a violation under federal law, even though cannabis is legal in Missouri.
Montgomery appeared to anticipate his arrest. A Facebook post published around the time of his hearing began, “If you are reading this message, it means I am likely held behind bars against my will.” In the post, he compared himself to civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, urging supporters to “remain resilient” and “stand firm in your beliefs.”
Federal prosecutor Christine Krug argued that “being elected to office doesn’t give someone carte blanche to do what they want,” St. Louis Magazine reported. Montgomery’s attorney, Justin Gelfand, countered that his client will ultimately be vindicated and noted that Montgomery remains a democratically elected official.
The sheriff’s legal troubles extend beyond federal court. At the state level, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is seeking his immediate removal from office, as part of a broader lawsuit first brought by former Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen recently passed legislation tightening oversight of the sheriff’s office after raising concerns about transparency and spending. Montgomery’s attorney, retired Judge David Mason, told The American that the measure amounts to political interference with an independent, elected county official.
Montgomery is expected back in federal court next week for a bond review hearing, where Bodenhausen could reconsider whether the sheriff should remain on home confinement or be taken into custody.