Osage County Sheriff Michael R. Dixon Jr. has 30 days to answer the Missouri Public Safety department's complaint that his peace officer's certification should be disciplined.
The state's Administrative Hearing Commission scheduled the complaint hearing for 9 a.m. Jan. 6.
In a four-page complaint filed this week with the AHC, the attorney general's office noted that Public Safety Director Jerry Lee "has the authority to issue, suspend or revoke peace officer licenses as outlined in" state law and in the director's "rules and regulations."
The complaint stated, the law "provides that when the (director) has knowledge of cause to discipline a peace officer he may file a complaint with the" AHC.
State law says the director "shall have cause to discipline any peace officer license" if the license-holder "has committed any criminal offense, whether or not a criminal charge has been filed," or if the license-holder "has committed any act while on active duty or under color of law that involves moral turpitude or reckless disregard for the safety of the public or any person."
Noting that Dixon has been Osage County's sheriff since January 2013 and, prior to that, was Belle's police chief, the complaint says: "Between October 1, 2012, and June 26, 2013, Dixon, for the purpose of disturbing C.M. (C.M. was a peace officer for the Belle Police Department), made repeated phone calls to C.M., as well as repeated comments of a suggestive or sexual nature and touching or striking her genital area with a flashlight."
C.M. will not be identified by name, because the News Tribune does not identify sexual assault victims.
Late last year, Phelps County Prosecutor John Beger - appointed as a special prosecutor in the case - charged Dixon with a felony crime of tampering with a four-wheeler by taking it one night last June, in spite of the owner telling him not to use it that night. He was also charged with four misdemeanors that included harassment and sexual assault.
St. Louis County Circuit Judge Richard C. Bresnahan was assigned as a special judge in the most recent case and, on July 1, the complaint reported, "Dixon pled guilty to harassment in connection with the acts" the complaint already had cited.
The complaint also informed the AHC that Bresnahan suspended the imposition of any sentence and placed Dixon on two years' probation.
"Cause exists to discipline" Dixon's license, the complaint said.
In a separate notice to Dixon, the commission told the sheriff he "must send this Commission an answer or other responsive pleading to the complaint not later than 30 days after you receive this notice. Your answer should state that you admit, deny, or have insufficient knowledge to admit or deny each statement of fact in the complaint."
If Dixon doesn't respond to the complaint, the AHC notice said, "This Commission may take it that you agree that the facts states in the complaint are true."
Dixon can represent himself at the Jan. 6 hearing or have an attorney.
Travis Noble Jr. of St. Louis County represented Dixon in the criminal case, but the AHC paperwork doesn't list Noble as Dixon's attorney in the new case.
If the commission finds that the certification "is subject to discipline," state law requires Lee to hold a hearing within 30 days of that finding, "to determine the form of discipline to be imposed" - including probation, suspension or permanent revocation.
The department filed its request for the AHC hearing more than three weeks after Dixon pleaded guilty to the harassment charge.
Editor's note: This article updates and expands earlier coverage.