POST certification suspended for Texas County Sheriff and Chief Deputy; Sheriff given 10 days to respond to indictments

(KY3)
Published: Jul. 20, 2018 at 10:04 PM CDT
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Texas County Sheriff James Sigman and Chief Deputy Jennifer Tomaszewski have had their POST certification suspended.

At this time, neither Sigman or his chief deputy are certified peace officers in the state of Missouri.

Court documents state that the sheriff and his attorney have 10 days to respond to the six felony and two misdemeanor indictments handed down to him after a Texas County judge signed a Quo Warranto Thursday.

If he does not respond within ten days, he will be removed from office.

If he responds with not guilty, then a hearing can be scheduled by his attorney to discuss a temporary order that currently has removed Sigman from office.

The Texas County Commission says they cannot appoint a sheriff until the seat is vacant.

Sigman will either have to resign or be removed from office before that seat can be filled legally by the commission.

Sigman and Tomaszewski are due in court for arraignment next Tuesday.

Both local law enforcement and the Highway Patrol have pledged their assistance to the Texas County Sheriff's Office to help with law enforcement duties in the county.

Texas County Coroner, Marie Lasater is handling the administrative duties for the sheriff's office for the time being.

A Texas County grand jury indicted Sigman and Tomaszewski on charges of assault, robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful use of a weapon, harassment, false impersonation of a public official and misuse of official information by a public servant.