Montgomery County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Montgomery County are issued by judges in the 12th Judicial Circuit when someone misses a court hearing or does not follow a court order. The county seat is Montgomery City, and the sheriff's office handles warrant enforcement across the county. You can search for active bench warrants in Montgomery County by calling the sheriff, visiting the courthouse, or using Missouri Case.net to check court records online. This page covers how to find bench warrants and what to do if you have one in Montgomery County, Missouri.

Montgomery County Sheriff Warrant Info

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency that enforces bench warrants in the county. You can call 573-564-8084 to ask about active bench warrants. Have your full name and date of birth ready when you call. Staff will check the system and let you know what comes up. Walk-in inquiries are accepted at the sheriff's office in Montgomery City during normal business hours.

Montgomery County has limited online resources. There is no county website with a dedicated warrant search tool. That makes phone calls and in-person visits the primary ways to check your bench warrant status through local law enforcement. The Missouri Sunshine Law gives the public the right to request government records, so you can also submit a written records request for warrant information. Keep in mind that going to the sheriff's office in person with an active bench warrant could result in arrest on the spot. A phone call is the safer route for self-checks.

The screenshot below shows the Missouri Case.net portal, which is the main online tool for searching Montgomery County court records.

Case.net covers all courts in the 12th Judicial Circuit including Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Records

The Montgomery County Circuit Court is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Audrain and Warren counties. The courthouse is in Montgomery City. Circuit judges issue bench warrants when defendants miss court dates or fail to meet conditions set by the court. The circuit clerk records all warrants, filings, and court orders at the courthouse.

For online access, Missouri Case.net covers all 12th Circuit court records including Montgomery County. Search by a person's name and check the docket entries for bench warrant mentions. The system is free and open to the public. Not every record appears online right away, so you may want to confirm the most current information with the clerk's office directly.

In 2023, a drug trafficking case in Montgomery County made the news when the Missouri State Highway Patrol served a search warrant and a separate arrest warrant was issued. This case highlighted how the sheriff's office and state law enforcement work together on warrant enforcement in the county.

How to Search Montgomery County Bench Warrants

Start with a phone call. The Montgomery County Sheriff at 573-564-8084 can check for active bench warrants quickly. Provide your name and date of birth. You can also visit the courthouse in Montgomery City and ask the circuit clerk to look up case information. Bring a valid photo ID.

Online, Case.net is the free statewide court database. Enter a name, select the 12th Circuit, and review docket entries for warrant information. The Missouri State Highway Patrol runs MACHS background checks at $15 for a name search covering all Missouri counties. The Missouri Department of Corrections offender search shows active probationers and parolees. And VINELink tracks jail inmates statewide and lets you sign up for custody alerts.

Note: Montgomery County shares the 12th Circuit with Audrain and Warren counties, so make sure you are looking at the right jurisdiction for your case.

Resolving Montgomery County Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Montgomery County, get a lawyer first. An attorney can contact the 12th Circuit Court and request a new hearing date. This often lets you appear at a scheduled time instead of sitting in jail. The Missouri Public Defender may be available if you cannot afford private counsel. The Missouri DPS Crime Victim Services unit can assist victims involved in cases connected to bench warrants.

You can also go to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and turn yourself in. Bring an ID. After booking, you will see a judge within about a day. The judge will set bail or release conditions. Under RSMo 544.665, bench warrants in Missouri do not expire. They stay active until you deal with them. The sooner you address a Montgomery County bench warrant, the better things tend to go at your hearing.

Warrant Types in Montgomery County

A bench warrant comes from the judge's bench. It is different from an arrest warrant. Bench warrants are for court compliance issues. Missing a hearing, not paying fines, or breaking probation rules are the most common reasons. Arrest warrants are based on probable cause that someone committed a crime. Both types can be served by any law enforcement officer in Missouri, and neither expires until resolved.

If a bench warrant from Montgomery County is entered into the national crime information database, officers in other states can also access it. That means a warrant issued in Montgomery City could follow you across state lines. Courts treat bench warrants seriously regardless of whether the original charge was major or minor. Taking care of the warrant sooner rather than later is always the better approach.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County in east-central Missouri. Each has its own circuit court and separate bench warrant records.