Iron County sheriff, 3 others charged in criminal conspiracy

POTOSI, Mo. – Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett has been charged in a criminal conspiracy involving a kidnapping plot. Two of Burkett’s deputies and an Iron County resident were also charged.

The Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is handling the case. I

Burkett and deputies Chase Bresnahan and Matthew Cozard are accused of aiding Donald Gaston to allegedly kidnap his children from their mother.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested the four men on Thursday.

Burkett, 46, 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, 31, 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, 39, 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, 62, 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.

Iron County is located approximately 90 miles south of downtown St. Louis.

FOX 2’s Mallory Thomas will have additional information on this story in our evening newscasts.