IRONTON, Mo. – Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett resigned Wednesday just before the start of a civil trial to remove him from office over accusations he and two deputies helped a man in a parental kidnapping plot.
Burkett and deputies Chase Bresnahan and Matthew Cozard are accused of aiding Donald Gaston to allegedly kidnap his children from their mother.
Prosecutors claim Burkett lied to a 911 dispatcher to report that the mother had kidnapped the girl and falsely accused the woman of putting the child in danger. Ultimately, the girl remained with her mother.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested the four men in March 2023.
Burkett was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree attempted kidnapping – facilitating a felony – inflicting injury – terrorizing, first-degree accessory to stalking, second-degree stalking, obtaining criminal history record information under false pretense, misusing 911, and making a false report. He was jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Bresnahan was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, two counts of conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree stalking, second-degree stalking, obtaining criminal history record information under false pretense, and misusing 911. He was jailed on a $400,000 cash-only bond.
Cozad was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, two counts of conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree accessory to stalking, second-degree accessory to stalking, and misusing 911. He was jailed on a $400,000 cash-only bond.
Gaston was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, attempted parental kidnapping by detaining or concealing a child’s whereabouts, conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree stalking, second-degree stalking, and making a false report. He was jailed on a $400,000 cash-only bond.
However, in June 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a quo warranto to have Burkett removed, saying Burkett abused his powers and authority by encouraging other officers to make illegal arrests and detentions in connection with this case. Because of those actions, Bailey said Burkett was unfit to hold office.
Attorney Gabe Crocker, who represents Burkett, previously told FOX 2 the charges were politically motivated and asked Iron County residents to show patience.
“As the Missouri Attorney General takes a pathetic victory lap today, I would take note that Andrew Bailey also forced a fellow Republican out of office today without hearing any evidence in a criminal court,” Crocker said.
Burkett was elected as the Iron County Sheriff in 2020 and previously worked as a deputy. In 2022, he was hospitalized for nearly four months with COVID-19, including spending time on a ventilator, according to the department’s Facebook page. While he was hospitalized, county officials sought to remove him from office but eventually backed off.
Following Wednesday’s resignation, Crocker said Burkett did not step down because he did another wrong, but on the advice of legal counsel.
“Unfortunately, due to the criminal charges Mr. Burkett faces, he was unable to take part in the quo warranto without jeopardizing his right to remain silent,” Crocker said. “Furthermore, he is unable to run for re-election in 2024 and his term ends later this year.”
While the civil matter has concluded, Burkett, Bresnahan, Cozad, and Gaston still face criminal prosecution.
