Former Texas County Sheriff James Sigman will stand trial beginning next week in Phelps County related to a matter to oust him from office in July 2018, according to a court docket entries.
Sigman is to appear Jan. 29-31 in Phelps County Circuit Court before Circuit Judge John Beger.
The matter was filed in July 2018 by special prosecutor Don Trotter of Lawrence County who alleged that Sigman had willfully failed to enforce the criminal laws of the state, suppress an assault, quell an assault, suppress assaults and authorized another to commit the criminal offense of misuse of official information and committed the criminal offense of forgery.
Sigman also faces numerous charges in a criminal case that resulted in an indictment by a grand jury and later counts were added. Another person, Jennifer Tomaszewski, also was charged by the grand jury. She was identified as a former county employee who was involved in a romantic relationship with Sigman before both were arrested.
He has denied all of the charges. No trial dates have been set in the criminal matter.
The Texas County Commission, after the events in July 2018, named Rowdy Douglas as interim sheriff and current Sheriff Scott Lindsey was elected in November 2018. Douglas is the department’s chief deputy.