Montgomery County Criminal Court Records

Montgomery County criminal court records are kept at the courthouse in Montgomery City. The Circuit Court handles all felony and misdemeanor cases for this east-central Missouri county. You can search records for free through Case.net, the state's online case search system. The Circuit Clerk also takes in-person requests. Montgomery County has a long courthouse history, and records availability varies by era. This page covers how to find criminal court records in Montgomery County, both online and at the courthouse.

Montgomery County Circuit Clerk

The Montgomery County Circuit Clerk's office is at 211 E. Third Street, Montgomery City, MO 63361. Phone is 573-564-3341. Email is montcourt@courts.mo.gov. The office keeps all criminal court records filed in this county, including felony and misdemeanor case files.

Records at the clerk's office are organized by time period. Cases from 2013 to the present are on Case.net and can be searched online. Records from 1991 through 2013 are indexed at the local clerk's office but not available online. Older records from 1870 through 1991 have been indexed by volunteers from the Montgomery County Historical Society, though these records are not digitized. Courthouse fires in 1864 and 1901 destroyed some early records.

When you visit in person, bring a name or case number. Standard copies cost about $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that.

Note: Some historical Montgomery County records were lost in courthouse fires in 1864 and 1901.

Search Montgomery County Criminal Records Online

Case.net is the best online tool for searching criminal court records in Montgomery County. It is free and covers all Missouri courts. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Filter to Montgomery County for local results. You get docket entries, charges, hearings, and case outcomes for cases from 2013 forward.

For criminal court records between 1991 and 2013, you need to visit the clerk's office in Montgomery City. Those records are indexed locally but not in the online system. For records before 1991, the Montgomery County Historical Society has done indexing work, though the original records are at the courthouse. The society's website may help you locate which files to request.

Under RSMo 610.140, expunged and sealed records are removed from public view. Juvenile records are excluded from Case.net. If a record has been expunged, it will not appear in any public search.

Montgomery County Criminal Background Checks

The MACHS portal from the Missouri State Highway Patrol handles statewide criminal history checks. A name-based search is $14 and covers all Missouri counties including Montgomery County. A fingerprint search costs $20 for positive identification.

Case.net shows court case records. MACHS shows compiled criminal history from law enforcement data. Use Case.net for a specific Montgomery County case. Use MACHS for a statewide criminal history check. The CJIS Division can answer questions at (573) 526-6312.

Arrest Records in Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and incident reports. Under RSMo 610.100, these become public once charges are filed or the investigation closes. Submit a Sunshine Law request to the sheriff's office for copies.

Active investigations stay closed. Once charges get filed or the case goes inactive, the arrest record opens. The agency must respond within three business days. If denied, they must cite the specific statute. The Missouri State Archives holds historical court records from across the state. Some older Montgomery County records, despite the courthouse fires, may be in archival collections. The Missouri DOC offender search is free and shows people in state prison or on supervision.

How Criminal Cases Work in Montgomery County

Criminal cases in Montgomery County start when charges are filed. The clerk assigns a case number. Felonies go to the Circuit Division. Misdemeanors go through the Associate Division. Both types produce criminal court records stored at the Montgomery City courthouse.

Missouri classifies felonies from Class A to Class E. Misdemeanors range from Class A through Class D. The classification determines the sentence range and appears in the court record. Docket entries track every step from the initial charge through final judgment. All of it is public record in Montgomery County unless sealed by a judge.

Legal Help for Montgomery County Records

The Missouri Courts website has forms and filing guides. The eFiling system allows online document filing. For Case.net help, call the OSCA Help Desk at 888-541-4894.

The Missouri Attorney General's office handles Sunshine Law complaints about records access. If a Montgomery County agency denies your request without a valid exemption, the AG can help. Legal aid groups in eastern Missouri may assist with criminal court matters for those who qualify. The AG victim services line is (800) 695-6111.

Montgomery County Sex Offender Registry

The Missouri Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered offenders in Montgomery County. The Highway Patrol runs the database. It is free. You can search by name, county, zip code, or address. Results show the offender's photo, home address, offense details, and tier level.

Sex offenders in Missouri must register with the sheriff in the county where they live. The Montgomery County Sheriff tracks local compliance. If an offender moves in from elsewhere, they have three days to register. Not registering is a crime on its own and creates a new case file at the clerk's office. The registry updates regularly as the Highway Patrol gets new information from local agencies. You can search it as often as you like with no fee and no account needed.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County in Missouri. Make sure you know which county your case was filed in. Criminal court records stay with the Circuit Clerk where charges were brought.