Special prosecutor declines to charge Randolph County sheriff

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) -

The Randolph County sheriff will not be charged as a result of a highway patrol investigation.

Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger was appointed as special prosecutor to review the case. Shellabarger received the case reports Friday and said in a letter to the patrol Tuesday that he will not file charges.

The letter refers to a Feb. 3 incident but gives no details.

Shellabarger told ABC 17 News on Monday that he hoped to make a decision on whether to file criminal charges or drop the case against Sheriff Aaron Wilson "sometime soon."

The patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control launched an investigation into Wilson in February. Randolph County prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford requested the patrol look into an issue that neither office has publicly said involves Wilson.

Wilson's attorney Gillis Leonard praised Shellabarger's decision. He did not give specifics on what the case entailed, but referred to it as a family issue.

"I believe [investigators] saw it as a family matter that should remained as a family matter, not unmlike what goes on quite a bit around the country," Leonard said. "And I think they saw that he handled himself the way that he needed to handle himself."

Leonard said he did not want to reveal what Wilson told investigators in an interview due to an ongoing family court matter, but said Wilson told the truth. Leonard said the Division of Drug and Crime Control in Troop A handled the investigation, which covers the Kansas City area.

"He got the same justice the average citizen would have gotten," Leonard said.

Shellabarger declined to say what the case entails on Monday.

Wilson was elected as Randolph County sheriff in November 2020 for a four-year term. Leonard said Wilson would continue to serve as sheriff.