Southern Missouri Sheriff Framed 77-Year-Old for Kidnapping, AG Says

The newly elected sheriff of Mississippi County assaulted an elderly rival of one of his relatives and framed her, cuffing the 77-year-old woman so hard she suffered a heart attack, Attorney General Josh Hawley alleges.

Sheriff Cory Hutcheson faces charges in that case, along with a second complaint that accuses him of illegally tracking the cell phones of his predecessor, state troopers and a sitting judge.

He was arrested on Wednesday following a joint investigation by the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol. Hawley said in a news release his office would prosecute the case.

Hutcheson was elected last November, defeating a twelve-year incumbent to take over the department in the Missouri boot heel, according to a profile in the Sikeston Standard-Democrat. He told the paper he planned to take a hands-on approach to the job.

“Mississippi County isn’t big enough to have a sheriff who just points and tells other people to do stuff,” Hutcheson said. “You have to be willing to jump in there and help do the work.”

Hutcheson was in uniform when he roughly cuffed the 77-year-old, authorities say. The elderly woman was involved in a civil dispute with one of the new sheriff's relatives. Hutcheson issued a bogus probable cause statement, alleging the senior citizen had kidnapped and assaulted his family member, according to Hawley.

The woman was hospitalized for three days after suffering a heart attack as a result of the arrest, authorities say.

Hutcheson is facing charges of first-degree robbery, second-decree assault and one count of false declaration in that case.

In the second case, he is accused of using his position to "ping" cell phones of law enforcement officers and Circuit Judge David Dolan. He was charged with seven counts of forgery, another seven counts of tampering with computer data and one count of notary misconduct.

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