Inmate’s escape highlights Ray County Jail deficiencies, sheriff says
7 March 2024
RICHMOND, Mo. — The Ray County, Missouri, sheriff has been removed from office after a court order this week.
Multiple law enforcement offices are on scene Thursday at the Ray County Sheriff’s Office and Courthouse.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a civil suit Wednesday after Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, alleging the sheriff knowingly allows detainees to leave the county jail.
“I will always work to protect Missourians,” Bailey said in a statement Thursday. “As attorney general, it is my duty to hold accountable those who refuse to do their job as required by Missouri law. To that end, I am moving for the removal of the Ray County sheriff.”
The lawsuit says Ray County judicial and elected officials have informed Childers that this is illegal, but Bailey alleges the sheriff continues to release inmates.
Bailey’s suit also accuses Childers of inappropriately using inmates to work on his and his friends’ properties — including people who have contributed to his campaign. The lawsuit says the sheriff has even posted about it on social media.
The lawsuit alleges during this time, the inmates are unsupervised, driving around the county and even making purchases at local stores.
Childers has also not taken any steps to make sure the inmates haven’t obtained any contraband while out of confinement, according to the lawsuit. It’s led to drugs, alcohol and cellphones inside the jail.
Since July 2021, Childers has been telling FOX4 about the issues with the county jail. It’s why he wanted voters to pass a sales tax to fund a new building. That vote failed.
County commissioners have agreed the jail has been a big issue for many years and need to be addressed.
The Ray County Circuit Court ruled in favor of Bailey’s request to remove Childers from office, but he will have 10 days to file a petition.
Pending further court orders, Childers is not allowed to engaging in any activity as the Ray County sheriff or enter the sheriff’s office, courthouse or jail.