Attorney General's News Release

April 9, 2004

Nixon seeks ouster of Webster County sheriff; files additional criminal charges against former deputy

Marshfield, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today filed a petition in quo warranto to remove Webster County Sheriff Ronald Worsham from office. The petition asks the Webster County Circuit Court to remove Worsham as sheriff because he engaged in malfeasance and misconduct, and knowingly or willfully failed and refused to perform official acts and duties of his office.

The petition alleges that, since taking office in 2001, Worsham has violated and neglected his duties as sheriff to keep in custody prisoners in the county jail, including having jailers transport prisoners to private businesses and other locations to perform work there, without court authorization; allowing unqualified employees to transport and remove prisoners from the jail; and allowing an individual with no law enforcement authority, William R. Rethford, to remove prisoners from the jail. Rethford currently is charged with deviate sexual assault involving victims who were detainees at the jail.

Nixon also is seeking Worsham's ouster for permitting uncertified individuals to serve as peace officers in the sheriff's department and allowing them to have access to records to which they were not entitled.

The Attorney General today also filed eight misdemeanor charges against a former Webster County sheriff's deputy, Terry Alan Voss. Voss already faces a felony charge of stealing, which is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. The charges filed today allege Voss falsely impersonated a law enforcement officer and committed false imprisonment by making a traffic stop and by arresting and handcuffing individuals. Voss is charged with four counts of false impersonation and three counts of false imprisonment; he also has been charged with misdemeanor trespassing for allegedly refusing to leave private property after being told to do so.

The counts of false impersonation and false imprisonment are class A misdemeanors, each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The trespassing charge is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. The charges against Voss are merely accusations; as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818