Former Texas County Sheriff James Sigman appealed a preliminary ruling ousting him from office.
In a court filing last week, Sigman, 48, opposes the quo warranto preliminary order issued July 20 by Circuit Judge John Beger. Sigman had 10 days to appeal it.
Sigman denies all of the charges against him in the four-page response filed by Jason Coatney, a Springfield attorney. Sigman also asks that any costs incurred be the responsibility of Texas County and its special prosecutor, Don Trotter of Vernon County.
A grand jury on July 18 indicted the then sheriff on a laundry list of charges, including willfully failing to enforce the criminal laws of the state, suppress an assault, quell an assault, suppress assaults, authorized another to commit the criminal offense of misuse of official information and committed the criminal offense of forgery.
He was formally arraigned July 24 and entered a not guilty plea. He is scheduled to appear for a trial setting Tuesday. Coatney also entered an appearance in the criminal matter.
Sigman’s former chief deputy, Jennifer Tomaszewski, is charged with the same offenses. A court order prevents them from having contact with each other. She is to return to court on Aug. 21. Tomaszewski, 38, entered a not guilty plea and does not have a lawyer, according to a court filing.
Both are free on $500,000 surety bond that was arranged through Peggy Rogers, who writes bonds for Chuck Telle Bail Bonds, a St. Louis firm.
Presiding County Commissioner Fred Stenger said Sigman, elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016, was removed from the payroll on Tuesday, July 24. Tomaszewski, who authorities said was involved in an ongoing romantic relationship with Sigman, was dropped as a county employee on July 18 –– the day she was charged by a special prosecutor on multiple felonies.
Sigman’s only public comment was to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter who found him at Tomaszewski’s Eunice house last Wednesday. He uttered an expletive and said, “It’ll all come out in the end, that’s all I can tell you.” He shut the door.