Missouri Judge Bars Ray County Prosecutor Over 3 Alleged Conflicted Relationships
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Missouri Judge Bars Ray County Prosecutor Over 3 Alleged Conflicted Relationships
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
A preliminary court order stripped Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston of authority after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sought her removal through a quo warranto petition.
The petition alleges Johnston failed to recuse from a sex-crime case involving Juan David Gutierrez, an undocumented Mexican national, then hid his whereabouts and transferred her vehicle title to help him flee.
Johnston is also accused of undisclosed romantic relationships with a defense attorney tied to cases her office handled and with a domestic-violence defendant, creating repeated conflicts of interest.
The filing further alleges she retaliated against an employee who discovered one relationship and fostered fear inside the office; Hanaway's office said Johnston cannot act officially while the case proceeds.
Gutierrez's felony sexual-offense case is charged but paused on appeal, underscoring broader concerns that the alleged misconduct compromised prosecutions and public safety in Ray County.