Trial for Removal of Sheriff Begins

(Ironton, MO) The trial to remove Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett from office begins today in Iron County Court. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a legal writ of quo warranto in June to remove Burkett from the position. It's alleged Sheriff Jeff Burkett, Deputy Chase Bresnahan, and Deputy Matt Cozad, assisted Iron County Resident Donald "Rick" Gaston with a scheme to kidnap Gaston's children from their mother following a domestic dispute. The charges include participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, attempted kidnapping, stalking, misuse of emergency telephone services, and unlawfully obtaining criminal history information. They were arrested in March of 2023. The petition asks the court to take Burkett out of office due to the Department of Public Safety's suspension of his peace officer certification.