Missouri Sheriff Removed from Office for Using Detainee Labor on His Own Properties
by David M. Reutter
When Sheriff Scott Childers lost his reelection bid in Missouri’s Ray County on August 6, 2024, he had already been out of office for five months. That’s because the county court issued a Preliminary Order in Quo Warranto removing him from office on March 6, 2024. The unusual order came in response to a petition filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R).
The removal petition alleged that Childers administered a work program at the county jail using detainees to labor on his own properties and those belonging to friends—including contributors to his political campaigns for Sheriff. It was further alleged that he left these detainees unsupervised and even allowed some conjugal visits, as well as car trips to shop at local stores, after which drugs, alcohol and cellphones flowed in and out of the jail.
The petition recalled that Childers was warned by judicial and elected officials that his program was illegal. But the warnings had no impact as Childers allegedly continued to release detainees for personally enriching work and even boasted about the program on social media.
In granting the petition, the Court “immediately enjoined” Childers from “engaging in any activity, or exercising any authority, as the Sheriff of Ray County” absent a separate order from the Court. Childers was barred from entering “the office of the sheriff, the Ray County Courthouse, or the Ray County Jail” unless authorized. The Court’s order was held under seal until served on Childers to assure “the orderly execution and litigation” of the case was not “impeded or compromised.” See: State v. Childers, Mo. Circ. (Ray Cty.), Case No. 2RY-CV00208.
Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI agents were at the jail when the order was served on March 7, 2024, relocating detainees while a search was conducted. County Coroner Bart Wilhelm took over as interim Sheriff until the August 2024 election, when Childers lost to challenger Gary Blackwell. Meanwhile Childers filed a motion to dismiss the petition but ultimately settled with Bailey on August 19, 2024, by surrendering his law enforcement license.
Additional source: KMBC