Montgomery County Sheriff, Bobby Dierks is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face criminal charges that have been filed against him by a special prosecutor.  According to the Montgomery County Chronicle, Dierks is facing two charges for attempting to interfere with an investigation on an individual last year.

 

A Shawnee County prosecutor, J. Todd Hiatt was appointed by Montgomery County Attorney Larry Markle to investigate the case against Dierks.  As a result of that investigation, led by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Hiatt has filed two criminal counts against Dierks.  One of interference with a law enforcement officer by attempting to conceal, alter or destroy evidence and intimidation of a witness by preventing testimony.  Both counts are misdemeanors. 

 

Hiatt alleges that Direks attempted to obstruct Deputy Ian Hurst from investigating or arresting an individual involved in a misdemeanor in January of 2018.  Hiatt also says that from January through August of last year Dierks intended to dissuade a sheriffs department employee from attending or giving testimony at an administrative hearing of an individual.

 

According to the Chronicle in an email to his staff over the weekend Dierks asked deputies and staff to be cordial, honest and cooperative during the process, to conduct business as usual and let him take care of the politics.

 

Sheriff Dierks is scheduled to appear in Montgomery County District Court in Independence at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.