Camille Johnston ousted over alleged misconduct pattern
Ray County prosecutor Camille Johnston has been stripped of her authority after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a quo warranto petition alleging a pattern of misconduct, including an improper romance with an illegal immigrant facing sex-crime charges. A judge’s preliminary order bars her from acting as prosecutor pending the case.
Key Takeaways
- Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sought removal of Ray County prosecutor Camille Johnston via a writ of quo warranto.
- A judge issued a preliminary order barring Johnston from the prosecutor’s office and courthouse unless authorized.
- The petition alleges intimate relationships with a sex-crime suspect, a defense attorney, and a domestic-violence defendant, plus staff retaliation.
- Johnston has about 10 days to respond; the AG’s office says she cannot act in any official capacity for now.
According to Fox News and local Missouri reporting, the filing paints Johnston’s tenure as compromised by conflicts of interest and a failure to put public safety first. Hanaway described the matter as a sustained pattern of misconduct that undermined the prosecutor’s office.
“When an elected official treats public office like their personal playground, betraying the public trust, ignoring legal obligations, and putting self-interest first, removal isn’t a suggestion, it’s a necessity,” Hanaway said in a statement.
What did the attorney general allege against Camille Johnston?
The petition alleges Camille Johnston had a romantic and intimate relationship with Juan David Gutierrez, identified as a Mexican citizen present in the U.S. illegally since 2019 and facing felony sexual-offense charges in Ray County. Hanaway’s office said Johnston knew his immigration status for several years and failed to recuse herself during the investigation.
Prosecutors further allege she knew Gutierrez’s whereabouts after he left Missouri, did not tell law enforcement, visited him in Mississippi, vacationed with him in Florida, and transferred title to her vehicle to him in 2023—conduct the filing says assisted him in absconding while he was under investigation.
The petition also alleges an undisclosed romantic relationship with a Ray County defense attorney who represented defendants in cases her office prosecuted, and another relationship with a man charged in a domestic-violence matter. In that domestic-violence case, she was later disqualified after local law enforcement learned of the alleged relationship and sought a special prosecutor.
Why was Camille Johnston removed from office so quickly?
Under Missouri law, the attorney general may file a writ of quo warranto to remove officials who abuse authority or neglect duties. The state must prove the official violated an oath, failed to perform required duties, or acted unlawfully. After the judge approved the preliminary order Thursday, Johnston was barred from entering the prosecutor’s office or Ray County Courthouse, or conducting business with that office, unless the court expressly authorizes it.
The AG’s office told reporters Johnston is “not allowed to take any actions in any official capacity” and, for now, “is no longer Ray County Prosecuting Attorney,” though she can contest the action. Spokesperson Stephanie Whitaker said Johnston had 10 days to respond; if she does, the judge would set a scheduling hearing.
Beyond the alleged relationships, the petition claims Johnston created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation by verbally berating staff and fired an employee who discovered a conflict-of-interest romance. In each alleged relationship, the filing says she recognized the impropriety, withheld information, and falsely denied the relationships when questioned.
What happens next in the Ray County case?
Ray County sits about 45 miles northeast of Kansas City. Neither Johnston nor her attorney, Chad Gardner, immediately responded to media requests for comment. Hanaway’s office said it stands by the petition’s allegations but would not discuss whether criminal charges against Johnston are possible.
Whitaker said complaints about the Ray County prosecutor spanned the prior AG administration and continued under review during the transition. The office framed the quo warranto as necessary to protect Ray County residents and restore integrity to a compromised office. Follow related public-interest coverage in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section as accountability stories develop.