A county prosecutor in Missouri has been removed from her office amid accusations of sexual misconduct involving both a criminal defendant and a criminal defense lawyer she was set to face-off with in court.
According to Fox 2 Now, Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston was temporarily removed from her position last week and has been accused by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway of:
• Having a romantic relationship with a defense attorney who was representing clients who had been prosecuted by Johnston;
• Having a romantic relationship with a defendant and firing an employee who found out about her affair;
• Having a romantic relationship with an undocumented migrant being prosecuted for sexual assault in her county, and providing him a car to help him skip court.
Hanaway told Fox 2 Now that Johnston was using "the court docket as her dating app."
Johnston was elected as Ray County's prosecutor in 2014. She was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022.
"She has breached the public trust in every way," the attorney general said. “It’s unbelievable behavior, including … members of the courthouse walking in on her during one of these incidents.”
Hanaway said her office gave Johnston the chance to resign rather than be removed, and said she was surprised when the prosecutor declined the offer.
“We gave her an opportunity to do the right thing and resign,” Hanaway said. “She wouldn’t take that opportunity, which is stunning to me.”
According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, Johnston is still planning to run for another term later this year.
The Independent has requested comment from Johnston.
Hanaway said she is glad the prosecutor's alleged actions have been revealed to the public.
“I’m glad it’s being publicly exposed,” Hanaway said. “I want people to know that wherever corruption happens in the state, this office is going to go after it.”
